Chip Maker TSMC Forecasts Weaker Crypto Mining Demand in Q4

Chip-making giant Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company has predicted weak demand for processors from cryptocurrency miners for the fourth quarter.

TSMC, the primary supplier for crypto mining giant Bitmain, announced.

In its Q3 2018 earnings call Oct. 17 that its revenue growth will be impacted by "Continued weakness" in the crypto mining market.

As a result, the company has lowered its annual revenue growth forecast for 2018.

According to Bitmain's initial public offering application filed with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in late September, nearly 60 percent of its total chip supply came from TSMC in 2017 and the first half of 2018.

"We estimate our 2018 growth rate will be about 6.5 percent in U.S. dollar term, which is close to the foundry industry's growth but slightly below our 7 percent to 9 percent guidance given in the last conference," said C. C. Wei, CEO and vice chairman of TSMC. TSMC reported.

A net income of around $2.9 million for Q3, marking growth of 23.2 percent over Q2. However, on a year-on-year basis, net profit declined by 0.9 percent.

Net revenue for Q3 came in at $8,486 million - an increase of 11.6 percent over Q2. Revenue growth year-on-year came to 3 percent.

In its last quarterly report, the firm also predicted continued weaker cryptocurrency mining demand, as CoinDesk reported at the time.

For the fourth quarter, Ho again forecast that revenue growth will be "Partially offset by continued weakness in cryptocurrency mining demand and inventory management" by its customers.