Bitcoin & money learning · Retrospective
Calculate costs before telling a mining story
Make the assumed cost structure visible.
Source foundation
Mining uses proof of work; pooling can reduce payout variability. Bitcoin developer guide: mining.
A worked example
A fictional machine draws 1 kilowatt for 24 hours at an assumed price of 0.20 currency units per kilowatt-hour. Electricity alone costs 4.80 per day. Hardware, cooling, downtime, fees, and revenue are omitted, so that figure is an expense illustration rather than a profitability estimate.
Original hypothetical example. Amounts, people, events, and scenarios above are invented for learning; they are not historical observations or forecasts.
What to take from it
A partial cost calculation cannot establish a business case.
Try it on paper
Add blank rows for omitted costs without inventing current revenue.
Keep the assumptions beside your answer. Check the result before applying the idea to a different situation.
Reading and limits
The linked source supports the foundation statement. The worked example and exercise are NAKAMOTO's educational analysis. This note does not establish current prices, product terms, investment suitability, or wallet compatibility.
Source reviewed 13 September 2026. For operational decisions, consult the current official documentation and the details of your own circumstances.