In recent years, our country has successively issued many policies, requiring comprehensive rectification and cleaning up of virtual currency hype and "mining".
"I saw someone selling 'mining machines' on the Internet, is it legal to buy and sell 'mining machines'?" Recently, some netizens reported the above-mentioned problems through Wuhan city message boards. In the past few days, a reporter from Changjiang Daily found that there are still many people who sell "mining machines" on platforms such as QQ groups and Baidu Tieba. Said that it can act as an agent for overseas "mining", "you only need to pay, and you don't need to worry about the rest."
"Lie earning" and "don't worry about it"... Can such a "pie" really fall from the sky? The reporter interviewed legal professionals and learned that privately purchasing equipment for "mining" is suspected of breaking the law, while hosting equipment for overseas "mining" is full of hidden dangers, and its hosting contract is difficult to be protected by law. Legal professionals remind that commodities or investments related to virtual currency must be carefully screened and invested carefully to avoid being defrauded by criminals.
Said that investing less than 20,000 yuan can "make money lying down"
Search QQ groups with "mining machine" as the keyword, and you can find hundreds of relevant results, including "mining machine direct sales", "mining machine exchange", "mining machine maintenance" and other different types of group chats. The reporter sorted out and found that these QQ groups ranged from about 60 people to more than 1,200 people. These groups involve multiple virtual currencies, and the sellers in the groups claim that they can set up different equipment and connect to different "mine pools" according to the needs of customers.
The reporter applied to join a QQ group called "Mining Machine Graphics Card Mining Ethereum Exchange Group" on the grounds of "wanting to buy a 'mining machine'", and was approved in less than 5 minutes. Group information shows that there are 375 people in this group, and the number of people online is usually around 100. Every 10 to 20 minutes, someone will post information about selling "mining machines" in the group, and some people are looking for "mining" partners here.
For example, a message shows: "You pledge the gas currency, and I will cover other hardware, computer room, and operation and maintenance. The output is 50% and the official website data is synchronized. The operation is in Chengdu, and the computer room is in Yichang. Welcome to visit." The reporter consulted professional Sources learned that the news generally means that the buyer pays a certain virtual currency deposit, and the seller provides hardware, computer room, and operation and maintenance services, and the income generated is equally shared by both parties.
On the afternoon of the 9th, the reporter saw a message in the group that "50 units are in stock", and immediately added the seller as a friend and asked how to trade. The seller said that the price of a single device ranges from more than 7,000 yuan to more than 8,000 yuan. If the quantity is large, the price can be discounted. The seller said that the goods will be delivered through Debon Logistics, and the goods usually arrive in two days. "Generally, a 30% deposit is paid first, and then the machine is tested in real time. Once there is no problem, the courier will come to the company to send it away. After the courier number is issued, you can make up the balance."
The reporter said that he was a novice who "just entered the pit" and asked the seller about "mining" and its benefits. The seller said: "Just started to play, I suggest you dig with two 588 graphics card machines, the price/performance ratio is currently the highest and most sought-after in the market."
According to the seller, based on the equipment he recommends, after deducting the cost of electricity, the daily fixed income of each "mining machine" is about 50 yuan. "A machine usually pays back its capital in seven or eight months, and you can make money after one or two years of digging it. As long as the machine is still good, you can sell it again. If the market is good, you will sell it more than when you sell it." It was expensive when you bought it. If you invest less than 20,000 yuan, you can 'learn and earn'."
Is there any risk in private "mining"? In the interview, some sellers said: "There is no need to worry at all, as long as you don't cut off the power in the surrounding area or disturb the noise."
"'Mining' at home is a fool" Some people transfer to overseas "mining"
The reporter found a "mining bar" in Baidu Tieba. There were only 5 posts in it, all of which were updated from March to June last year. Three of them are advertising information about the sale and hosting of "mining machines", and two are "science popularization" related to "mining".
Is it really "earning money" by buying two machines to "mining" at home? On the 10th, the reporter contacted one of the posters through the mobile phone number provided in the post. She told reporters that the country currently has a clear policy that "mining" is an illegal act, and she does not sell "mining machines", but she can provide agency services and earn money through overseas "mines".
During the conversation, the reporter lied that "I heard that there are friends around me who are 'mining' at home and the income is not bad, and I also want to buy equipment to 'enter the pit'". Hearing this, the woman seemed a little surprised: "It is absolutely impossible for a real 'miner' to dig at home. Even in China before, they put it in a 'mine' to dig. Power consumption, noise, and the need to mine Staring at it every day, it is impossible to dig at home by yourself.”
"In fact, there are many 'pitfalls' in this industry. The so-called 'mining' at home is to deceive people." After you buy it, it is basically impossible to mine coins, and it is easy to be investigated. You must find a professional custodian like us, and thousands of machines are tied together to generate income.”
She said that she can act as a "contact person" to assist in overseas "mining", and can have an interview if necessary. "You only need to pay the money, and you don't need to worry about the rest. A client asked me to buy it the year before last, and last year the house and car were settled."
No longer doing online "mining" related business "mining machine" company transformed into graphics card sales
The reporter searched through the Internet and saw a job posting on a recruitment website—an Internet company in a certain place was recruiting "mining machine" salespersons. The job posting time was September 2020.
The company profile shows: "Mainly committed to the development and application of blockchain technology, the sales and hosting of mainstream currency output equipment (commonly known as "mining machines") such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. There are large-scale "Mine", in the field of "mining machine" hosting, the company has first-class hardware facilities, a strong operation and maintenance team, and an excellent after-sales service system, which can provide customers with one-stop "mining" services and realize mining for all ', allowing customers to experience the charm of the blockchain in an all-round way."
On the morning of the 11th, the reporter came to this company according to the address provided by the recruitment information. The company has more than 10 employees. A male person in charge introduced that the current "coin market" is in a downturn, and the state has issued a series of restrictive policies. At present, the company no longer engages in related businesses such as "mining" or "mining machine" hosting. Salespeople are no longer being hired.
"Our main business now is selling graphics cards, and we don't know what buyers are using them for," said the person in charge.
According to the guidance of the person in charge, the reporter searched for "3070 graphics card" on Jingdong and other platforms, and a large number of search results appeared, with prices ranging from more than 4,000 yuan to more than 6,000 yuan.
The person in charge said that the "3070 graphics card" is a type of graphics card used in some "mining machines". "Actually, we are similar to these businesses on the Internet. We are 'second-rate dealers' of graphics cards. We buy them back and sell them to others to make a difference." He also introduced that graphics cards eliminated or disposed of by some Internet cafes are one of their sources of purchases.
High energy consumption, carbon emissions, and large "mining" do far more harm than good
The reporter learned that "mining" equipment generally includes electronic computing equipment (such as graphics cards, motherboards, etc.), "mining" software, and "mining pool" access records, etc., and "mining machines" themselves have the characteristics of high energy consumption and loud noise.
In September last year, the National Development and Reform Commission and other departments issued the "Notice on Rectifying Virtual Currency "Mining" Activities." The leading role of development and scientific and technological progress is limited, and its blind and disorderly development will have an adverse impact on promoting high-quality economic and social development and energy conservation and emission reduction.
According to related reports, there was a company that used data services as a cover to specialize in "mining" with an average monthly electricity consumption of 25 million kilowatt-hours, and the company's annual tax payment was only 250,000 yuan. According to another media report, in April this year, four illegal cases were investigated and dealt with in a certain place in Zhejiang, and 132 "mining" equipment were seized, which could free up about 330 tons of standard coal for energy consumption.
A software engineer in Wuhan said in an interview with reporters that the danger of "mining" is that the process consumes a huge amount of computer computing power, which will inevitably lead to a huge waste of national energy. Moreover, the feature of the blockchain is "decentralization", but various "independent" virtual currencies logically repeat investment and waste computing resources.
"This process did not promote the actual development of social productivity. Only a very small number of people benefited, but it consumed a lot of energy, semiconductor resources, and human resources. The harm far outweighed the benefit." The software engineer said.
Self-purchased equipment "mining" is suspected of illegally hosting overseas "nuggets" with many hidden dangers Is it legal to buy and sell "mining machines" in my country? Wang Weiqi, senior partner of Beijing Dacheng Law Firm, said that "mining machines" are commodities, and buying and selling "mining machines" is like buying and selling computers, graphics cards, and hard drives, and will not involve illegal issues; but privately buying "mining machines" for "mining Mine" is suspected of breaking the law.
According to Wang Weiqi, according to the "Notice on Rectifying Virtual Currency "Mining" Activities" issued by the National Development and Reform Commission and other departments, virtual currency "mining" activities fall within the scope of national rectification. The "mining machine" for virtual currency "mining" is an illegal act and can be deemed as a violation of the "Notice" that "prohibits the development of virtual currency 'mining' projects in any name".
At the same time, hosting "mining machines" in overseas "mines" has a relatively high risk, and cases of using virtual currencies such as Bitcoin to commit crimes are not uncommon. According to reports, if "mining machines" are entrusted to overseas "mines" to engage in "mining" activities, the custody contract may not be protected by law. When a dispute arises between the two parties, the court may even refuse to accept such a case. Even when such cases are accepted by the courts, the validity of the contract is a major bone of contention. As for such foreign-related contracts, even if the judgment wins the case, there may be great difficulties in its execution.
Wang Weiqi reminded that virtual currency does not have the same legal status as my country's legal currency, and virtual currency trading activities have no real value support, and prices are easily manipulated. Therefore, related commodities or investments must be carefully screened and invested carefully to avoid being illegally Molecular fraud.
exist in digital form
Cannot be used as currency in circulation in the market
Investing and trading are not protected by law
Does not have monetary attributes such as legal compensation and mandatory
Does not have the same legal status as currency
It is to confirm the transactions that occur in the virtual currency system within a period of time and record them on the blockchain to form a new block.
People who "mine" are called miners. To put it simply, "mining" is the bookkeeping process, the miners are the bookkeepers, and the blockchain is the ledger.
The essence of "mining" is that the virtual currency system asks a math problem every 10 minutes. Whoever calculates the correct answer first will get the corresponding virtual currency reward.
(1) "Mining" consumes a large amount of computing resources, making the system, software, and application services run slowly, and may even cause the system to crash, resulting in data loss
(2) Virtual currency "mining" will cause a lot of energy consumption and carbon emissions, which violates the new development concept and is not conducive to the realization of the national carbon peak and carbon neutral goals
(3) Personal computers or servers are controlled by "mining" programs, resulting in data leakage or virus infection, which can easily lead to network security issues
(4) Virtual currency uses anonymous transactions, disrupts the normal financial order, and becomes a tool for illegal and criminal activities such as money laundering and illegal transfer of assets
The seller runs away
Buying "mining machines" through online platforms such as QQ groups, it is difficult to verify and track the seller's identity. Once the seller collects the money and runs away, the buyer's investment is "in vain"
shoddy
Sellers use low computing power "mining machines" to pretend to be high computing power products, or use second-hand products to pretend to be new products. It is difficult to guarantee the quality and rights protection
MLM trap
Some APPs falsely claim that "investment is convenient, the rate of return is high, and the income of online pullers is doubled", and they are doing pyramid schemes and frauds in the name of "mining".
"Currency market" crash
The risk of the virtual currency market is high, and related transactions are not protected by law in China. A large amount of investment in the purchase of "mining machines" caused the "coin market" to collapse and lose everything
JinseFinance
Bitcoinworld
dailyhodl
Cointelegraph
Bitcoinist