Official Skyminers are effectively free, or you can build a DIY Skyminer for $40
Fudders often claim Skycoin is a "scam" because official 8-node Skyminers cost 1 Bitcoin, which appears to be overly expensive considering the hardware components can be purchased for approximately $600.
Skyminers sold in 2018 did cost 1 BTC, however the purchaser was reimbursed with 1 BTC worth of Skycoin, less the cost of the components ($600). For example, when Bitcoin was worth $10,000, a Skyminer buyer was reimbursed with $9,400 worth of Skycoin, which they could choose to sell to recover the majority of the initial 1 BTC cost. This approach was designed to help distribute Skycoin to the community.
A new cost model was introduced in 2019. Skyminers sold in 2019 cost $2000, and the purchaser is guaranteed repayment of $2000 worth of Skycoin over 24 months, in addition to the normal Coin Hours earned by the Skyminer. This means official Skyminers are now effectively free, because the cost of the Skyminer is fully reimbursed.
Another benefit to buying official Skyminers is that Skycoin packages all the necessary components into one box and delivers to your door, which is easier than having to source all the components separately.
Click here to purchase an official Skyminer.
Skycoin also encourages community members to build DIY Skyminers using commonly available components that can be purchased from AliExpress and other retailers. To build an 8-node Skyminer costs approximately $600, while a simple single-node Skyminer can be built for as little as $40.
When building a DIY Skyminer, no money is paid to Skycoin, yet the Skyminer will still earn Skycoin or Coin Hours. It's difficult to see how anyone could be getting "scammed" here.
As of February 2019, approximately 10,000 Skyminer hardware nodes (official and DIY) have been deployed around the world by members of the Skycoin community.
Fudders also claim Skyminers are a "scam" because Skycoin is pre-mined. This FUD is addressed here.
Skyminers sold in 2018 did cost 1 BTC, however the purchaser was reimbursed with 1 BTC worth of Skycoin, less the cost of the components ($600). For example, when Bitcoin was worth $10,000, a Skyminer buyer was reimbursed with $9,400 worth of Skycoin, which they could choose to sell to recover the majority of the initial 1 BTC cost. This approach was designed to help distribute Skycoin to the community.
A new cost model was introduced in 2019. Skyminers sold in 2019 cost $2000, and the purchaser is guaranteed repayment of $2000 worth of Skycoin over 24 months, in addition to the normal Coin Hours earned by the Skyminer. This means official Skyminers are now effectively free, because the cost of the Skyminer is fully reimbursed.
Another benefit to buying official Skyminers is that Skycoin packages all the necessary components into one box and delivers to your door, which is easier than having to source all the components separately.
Click here to purchase an official Skyminer.
Skycoin also encourages community members to build DIY Skyminers using commonly available components that can be purchased from AliExpress and other retailers. To build an 8-node Skyminer costs approximately $600, while a simple single-node Skyminer can be built for as little as $40.
When building a DIY Skyminer, no money is paid to Skycoin, yet the Skyminer will still earn Skycoin or Coin Hours. It's difficult to see how anyone could be getting "scammed" here.
As of February 2019, approximately 10,000 Skyminer hardware nodes (official and DIY) have been deployed around the world by members of the Skycoin community.
Fudders also claim Skyminers are a "scam" because Skycoin is pre-mined. This FUD is addressed here.