Has anyone attempted to pay people in cold places to install a compact ASIC like the Spondolies SP20 to heat up their homes?
This is how I see it can work.
1. Load the ASIC up with firmware that locks out the mining pool config from being changed.
2. Provide the "heater" (ASIC) for free, and pay for 50% of the electricity running costs.
3. Effectively mine bitcoins at 50% of the normal electricity costs, with no warehousing costs.
4. During spring, have the residents return the miners and ship them to another region that is now winter.
It's a good idea, but it will not work. I don't think that people are willing to spend 50% of the electricity a miner takes up just to heat their house. They need to watch over the miner as well. Natural gas heating is far more economical even if you find people that live in very cold place they probably already have cheap electricity.