Bitcoin Mining Could Power Growth For World's Biggest Chip Makers

  • Some analysts think mining can yield a 10th of TSMC’s revenue
  • Demand will remain high so long as bitcoin’s price holds up

The Rivals to Bitcoin's Crown

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Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. is one of hundreds of companies that have benefited by supplying components for Apple Inc.’s iPhone over the past 10 years. Now the world’s biggest maker of bespoke microchips may see digital currencies like Bitcoin become even more important for its growth.

TSMC stands to benefit big-time from a boom in cryptocurrency mining driven by Bitcoin’s 1,400 percent leap last year -- the same explosive growth that’s bolstered shares of designers from Nvidia Corp. to Advanced Micro Devices Inc. That’s a timely boost, as expectations for iPhone X shipments dwindle and Chinese smartphone demand tapers off. Crypto-mining could account for as much as a 10th of TSMC’s revenue in 2018, becoming its fastest-growing segment.