Bitmain dares a transformation that many in the scene long considered impossible: water-cooled Scrypt miners. Until now, liquid cooling was reserved exclusively for high-performance Bitcoin ASICs – but now Litecoin and Dogecoin mining are following.
In total there are three models available:
Together, they mark the transition from the roaring basement miner to a nearly whisper-quiet rack module.
But which model truly hits the sweet spot between energy efficiency, installation effort, and profitability? What matters more to you – raw hashrate or peace and quiet in the server room? That’s exactly where the appeal of this generation lies.
When Air Reaches Its Limits
The classic L11 stays true to the familiar concept: air cooling, solid build quality, easy setup.
- Power consumption: 3680 W
- Noise level: ≈ 75 dB (comparable to a vacuum cleaner)
- Efficiency: ≈ 184 J/GH
Despite the noise, it impresses with stability and simple maintenance. For users with solar energy or variable electricity prices, it’s a reliable workhorse that remains competitive for home use.
The L11 Pro takes the concept a step further.
An optimized fan design lowers chip temperature by several degrees, allowing the miner to maintain clock and voltage stability over longer periods.
- Hashrate: 21 GH/s
- Power consumption: 3612 W
This results in roughly 5 % more hashrate and lower energy use. Users upgrading from the L9 will appreciate that infrastructure and pool settings remain unchanged – no reconfiguration, no hassle, just more performance in the same familiar framework.
Cool Clarity: Water for Higher Stability
The L11 Hydro breaks with routine – it “breathes through water.”
Instead of fans, a closed hydro-cooling system in a 6U format removes heat efficiently.
The Best: You do not to buy an external radiator – the set is already complete!
In testing, it maintained a constant 33 GH/s for 72 hours without temperature spikes – a picture of technical calm.
- Noise level: ≈ 60 dB
- Power supply: more stable
- Chip temperature: remains within a tight range
Every saved kilowatt-hour becomes visible when the Hydro mines in quiet steadiness.
This makes it the first choice for professional hosting farms focused on space and energy efficiency. A single 6U unit replaces almost two air-cooled models, while maintaining stable energy-per-hash ratios.
Less dust, fewer service calls, less noise – in short: predictable productivity.
From the L9 to the L11 – Evolution or New Beginning?
Many miners still running the L9 wonder: is the upgrade really worth it?
The performance increase is clear:
- +25 % hashrate with the L11 Air
- Up to +100 % with the L11 Hydro
Under the hood, the technical foundation remains familiar: same interface, API, and pool logic. The differences lie in the details – slightly lower voltages per chip, more stable power delivery, and even cooling to slow aging.
For tinkerers or small cluster owners, the L11 Pro is the logical next step.
But those looking to modernize or expand their fleets will see the Hydro as a new beginning – away from noise, toward rack-level efficiency.
Calculating, Saving, Growing – Where Mining Still Pays Off
When it comes to return on investment, the progress isn’t only in hashrate and noise reduction.
At an electricity price of $0.06 per kWh, approximate daily net profits are:
- L11 20GH/s: $24
- L11 Pro 21 GH/s: $25
- L11 Hydro 6U 33GH/s: $40
Of course, results vary with Litecoin and Dogecoin prices, but merged mining continues to act as a quiet efficiency booster by securing both coins simultaneously.
At industrial electricity rates below €0.06 per kWh, the Hydro achieves payback times under one year.
Users with private photovoltaic setups can already achieve positive margins with air-cooled models.
With the Hydro, efficiency becomes almost tangible – a soft hum instead of a turbine, steady heat output, stable clocks – it feels as though mining has matured.
Self-Hosting or Outsourcing – Two Sides of the Same Coin
Here lies a key decision for many miners.
Self-hosting offers direct control and low entry costs, but also means noise and maintenance.
The L11 Air fits perfectly in garage setups or off-grid solar projects.
Those thinking long-term, operating ten or more units, will discover the advantages of hosting: stable temperatures, cheaper electricity, and zero maintenance effort.
Miner Hosting providers like EPS (available over millionminer) are offering rates from €0.055 per kWh make costs highly predictable – and in this environment, the Hydro truly shines: fewer service intervals, near-silent operation, and high uptime even in densely packed racks.
The Air models, by contrast, remain the playground of enthusiasts who enjoy tweaking, swapping fans, and fine-tuning voltages at manageable upfront costs.
A Moving Market – Litecoin & Dogecoin as Constants
While many blockchains shift toward Proof of Stake, the Scrypt ecosystem stays true to proven methods.
- Litecoin, the “digital silver,” remains predictable through transparent halvings.
- Dogecoin, as a merged-mined bonus, adds a profit cushion that effectively doubles energy yield.
This combination ensures Scrypt mining remains attractive in 2025 and maybe far over 2026 – less speculation, more predictability.
Bitmain leverages this market moment with the L11 series, offering a product line that combines stable hashrates with scalable infrastructure.
Together, the three Antminer L11 models tell the story of a technological shift: from mere functionality to industrial-grade tools that merge profitability with sustainability.
Perhaps the L11 Hydro marks only the beginning of a quiet revolution – one where mining rigs no longer roar but whisper, and where water becomes the sound of progress.
Merged Mining explained
At its core, merged mining means that a miner uses the same proof-of-work (PoW) for two or more blockchains at the same time. The most well-known example is the connection between Litecoin and Dogecoin – both of them are based on the Scrypt algorithm.
When a miner like the Antminer L11 computes the hash for a new Litecoin block, that same calculation can also be used for Dogecoin, because their mathematical requirements are compatible. In other words, a single computation creates value and profit for two networks at once.
Right now it is possible with some pools to mine Dogecoin, Litecoin and BellsCoin at the same time – meaning you get profits from all 3 coins at the same time. Yes its really true: You will the full reward for each coin but only pay electricity ones.
If you have more questions do not hesitate to contact our team.
