Equihash is a memory-oriented proof-of-work algorithm first popularized by Zcash (ZEC), designed to make mining more accessible by placing heavier demands on memory rather than relying only on raw processing power. While the algorithm was originally intended to support broader GPU mining participation and make ASIC development more difficult, dedicated Equihash ASIC miners were eventually developed, including Bitmain’s Antminer Z series. Today, Equihash and its variants, such as Equihash 200/9, 144/5, and 125/4, are used by several cryptocurrencies beyond Zcash, including Horizen (ZEN) and Komodo (KMD), which gives Equihash mining hardware broader utility across multiple networks. Because Equihash mining depends heavily on memory performance, miner output is typically measured in KSol/s, or kilo-solutions per second, while efficiency is evaluated differently from SHA-256 miners, which are usually compared by hashrate per watt.
