There are reports of the lack of semiconductors due to Corona 19, but reports that not only semiconductors are insufficient, but also hard disks and SSDs are similar.
Reportedly, through panic purchases using the emergence of new cryptocurrencies, in Asia, storage devices such as HDDs and SSDs are in a state of shortage. The first report of the lack of storage was a Chinese media company. It is reported that hardware manufacturers who want to increase the price of PC parts by spreading rumors about the relatively new cryptocurrency Chia may have caused a storage shortage intentionally.
Chia uses an algorithm called PoST (Proof of Space Time) instead of PoC (Proof of Capacity) as a consensus algorithm with a different cryptocurrency. PoST is an algorithm different from PoC in that the same storage device cannot be used repeatedly.
Chia has a system in which rewards are given based on how much storage is provided to the total network storage capacity, so if a cryptocurrency such as Chia is successful, the local storage value can be measured directly as a monetary value. Therefore, it is also pointed out that storage vendors such as Dell will indicate how much cryptocurrency can be mined in this storage device such as 500 teeth, rather than obsolete markings based on capacity such as GB or TB. Of course, it should be noted that Chia is a cryptocurrency that has not yet been released.
Seagate said in its quarterly financial report that it is confirming that storage demand has surged through cryptocurrency mining, but the report says that the lack of HDD or SSD is due to individual stores stockpiling storage. Therefore, it is analyzed that storage shortages appear to occur in Asia as the demand for storage panic buying by dealerships and dental mining demand overlap.
In addition, in China, Seagate and Western Digital HDD prices continue to rise, and most of the products of both companies are sold out at Taobao and JD.com, a popular online shopping mall in China. High-capacity 16TB or 18TB HDDs are popular, and the selling price has risen to 66.7%.
The demand for teeth is not limited to China. Reports point out that mining demand has buryed almost half of the GPU market over the past five years and has messed up the market. Therefore, it is not appropriate that the mining market affects storage as well. Related information can be found here.