The electrical energy an ASIC consumes to perform a given amount of hashing, commonly expressed in joules per terahash.
ASIC efficiency is best understood as part of a system rather than as an isolated definition. Its related coordinates show the mechanisms, incentives and historical records that give the term practical meaning.
ASIC efficiency sits between protocol rules, economic incentives and software operated by independent participants. In Bitcoin, no component is authoritative by itself: miners propose history, fully validating nodes enforce validity, and users decide which rules and software they accept.
Understanding ASIC efficiency helps distinguish a verifiable Bitcoin mechanism or historical record from slogans, products and market narratives.
For the clearest picture, read this entry together with ASIC miner, Joules per terahash. The reverse links also lead from Joules per terahash, ASIC autotuning, Underclocking, Overclocking.
Linked to related atlas coordinates
Grounded in a source record
Explains function and trade-offs
Part of the open Bitcoin knowledge graph