This business model is just as exploitative as any cloud hashing service you describe. It's brilliant because you hold zero risk.
The entirety of the risk in ASIC mining is in the upfront cost of the units themselves versus difficulty suppressing Bitcoin returns. There is no ASIC unit in existence that doesn't at least outperform the average US electricity cost @ $1000 Bitcoin.
So if you're taking a percentage of Bitcoin revs from your customers, doing the pre-orders on the units, getting a commission on handling sales, etc., you're exactly like a cloud hashing service without any of the principal risk of a cloud hashing service.
It's a very clever idea, but anybody with any common sense knows the sales pitch here is completely disingenuous.
Thank you for your feedback and I understand your concerns in terms of risk and methods of revenue. The risk would be in the most part in the hands of the customers although there would still be risks to the company as well. If bitcoin tanks the company will be left holding the bag paying for the electricity, facility, and payroll for that month. The customers will lose money if bitcoin tanks as the value dropped which occurs whether or not you are cloud mining or mining from home. In terms of revenue I know that this service will be more efficient and provide for a better ROI than the competitors because they are purchasing the equipment rather than a contract with negative roi.
Comparison (Assumptions $870USD/
BTC, Monthly Difficulty Increase 80%, $0.15/kWh)
CloudHashingSilver Package (1 year 10gh/s jan 20gh/s rest of year) -$999 After 1 year income $409 Profit/Loss:
($591)Gold Package (1 year 50gh/s jan 100gh/s rest of year) -$3,999 After 1 year income $1586 Profit/Loss:
($-2,413)Platinum Package (1year 300gh/s jan 600gh/s rest of year) - $8,999 After 1 year income $9,512 Profit/Loss:
$513 5.7% return
Our CompanyLets say we order a neptune with preorder money $13,000 start mining in march You can buy fractions of the machine
Machine profit after 4 months including electricity but not maintenance $17,090 take out 10% company fee ($1709) that leaves people with $15,381 to be split according to fractional ownership of that machine.
4 month customer profit $2381 18%.32 return or 54.49% (annualized return) The machine would then be sold and the proceedings would be split 30% company 70% owners.
Other cloud hosting services are actually holding less risk in that they get the cash upfront hedging them against bitcoin volatility while we would be getting paid in bitcoins.