Post
Topic
Board Service Discussion
Re: Why cloud mining is a zero sum game
by
puwaha
on 07/10/2014, 18:25:26 UTC
Point taken.  I guess I just wanted to point out some underlying mechanics of cloud mining to give food for thought.  In the long run I guess we will see how it all shakes out.  It just perturbs me when one particular company states that their miners "never become obsolete" or "always are up to date" when the only thing that really matters is hash rate.

If this is in reference to GAW/ZenCloud Hashlets, those phrases only really apply to one type... the Prime.  The claim that it "never becomes obsolete", or is "always up to date" refers to several aspects.  The Prime can switch between SHA-256 or Scrypt mining.  You can choose your pool from the small selection.  And they have all these weird add-ons like "double dipping" or "rocket boost", which allow you to mine two pools at once or increase hash rate temporarily, respectively.  I personally don't think the price of the Prime (currently at around $50) is worth those add-ons... but at least GAW/Zen are helping the Prime owners recoup some of their investment.

Those folks who got in early with ZenCloud when the Primes were around $16 are really making their ROI pretty soon with all the add-ons.  Plus, as you acknowledged, they get to sell them back for 80% of their current value... so they've already made their ROI if they want to cash out.

I've got a few MH/s scrypt mining hashlets on GAW/ZenCloud for full disclosure.  I like the service, and I'm keeping a close eye on everything.  I had to underclock the Antminer S1 I have at home this week because it was no longer paying for the electricity it was consuming.  I never made enough with the S1 to trade up to something better for the house.