For Tesla owner Siraj Raval, he has tried almost all methods of mining cryptocurrency by using 20 18 Tesla Model 3. Laval runs free bitcoin mining software on Apple Mac mini M 1, and supplies power to the computer by plugging the inverter into the 12 volt power socket in Tesla center console. He also connected the interconnected GPU (graphics processing unit) to the Tesla suitcase and used the car's internal battery to run these machines.
But Laval's favorite way to use cryptocurrency such as Ethereum is to use JavaScript to invade Tesla's local CPU. Although this may invalidate his car warranty, Laval thinks it is worth it. He explained that when the price of Ethereum and Polygon peaked at 202 1, he could make a net profit of $800 per month by using these two products. Alejandro De La Torre, a bitcoin miner, said that mining with Tesla cars is just like connecting any other power source. He explained: "The main factor is the electricity price. If it is cheaper to do this with an electric car, so be it! "
As early as 20 18, Chris Aracy, the first electric car dealer in Wisconsin's history, decided to transform his Tesla car. Similar to Laval, Aracy tried several different methods to transform his Tesla Model S into cryptocurrency mining equipment. In the industry, cryptocurrency mining is an energy-intensive process, and machines all over the world contribute their computing power to the whole network to create new cryptocurrencies and verify existing transactions. They deal with complex mathematical equations by running special software. To get involved, basically all you need is a computer and a continuous power supply.
With the help of the power inverter, Aracy directly plugs Bitland Antminer S9 (a mining equipment specially used for mining the world's most popular cryptocurrency) into his car battery to try to mine bitcoin. The inverter adjusts the voltage of Tesla battery to a level compatible with Antminer. Aracy also successfully used the vehicle's internal firmware to mine replacement coins. When talking about this process, Aracy said "it's no big deal". He used the computer and screen built in the car to navigate to a web page, which he specially set up for encrypting Monero. He explained: "I can run the mining program in the browser."
Of all the technologies that Laval tried, the most profitable technology included hacking into Tesla's internal computer and plugging the GPU directly into the car's motor. Laval created a Web application using JavaScript, which can retrieve data from his Tesla car and, in some cases, modify the data. He said: "This is actually a computer with wheels. Hacking into this computer car is as simple as that. " He described the process as essentially hijacking the car's internal firmware to allow additional power use. Subsequently, he connected five GPUs to Tesla battery, and then switched between running two different hash algorithms: one was to mine Ethereum, and the other was to generate polygons.
Professional miners have confirmed that this method is feasible in theory. Whit Gibbs, CEO and founder of Compass, a bitcoin mining service provider, explained: "All the mechanisms are there. If you have power supply, enough space and the ability to add cooling function, then the battery must have enough power to start the ASIC and run it. "
Whether the use of Tesla cars to mine cryptocurrency proves profitable has a lot to do with when the owner buys a car. For example, Aracy bought his car before 20 17 1, which means that he has been given a privilege: he can use the Tesla charging station network for free and without restriction during his car life cycle.
Aracy estimates that in 20 18 years, he will get bitcoin worth 10 dollars within a 60-hour window, which is profitable because he doesn't have to pay the electricity bill. But he said that despite the huge profits, it is hardly worth it now. He said. "At present, although the price of bitcoin has risen sharply, the difficulty of mining is also rising. At the same time, using exactly the same equipment, I may see bitcoin worth 1 or $2. " Monero's mining is also in vain. Aracy explained: "Is this method feasible? It really works. However, does it make use of anything of value, so that it can profit in any way, shape or form? This is not the case. "
However, Laval is more optimistic about the profit potential of Tesla Motors. He said that although he has to pay for car charging, the battery itself is "unparalleled", so he can get many benefits. Laval's car can travel 565,438+05 kilometers per charge, and it costs about $65,438+00 to $65,438+05 to charge. If he drives for several hours every day and needs to be recharged once a week and a half, his monthly bill is between $30 and $60. Laval estimates that he mines with Tesla batteries for about 20 hours every day. Although the prices of alternative currencies such as Ethereum and Polygon are easy to fluctuate, Laval has made other preparations to ensure profitability.
Aracy admitted that he was no longer worried about mining. He said: "Mining is too difficult. I can work at McDonald's and earn more money. " Aracy does provide an alternative, that is, mining cryptocurrency with the help of employers. He said, "If you work in a company, you'd better make good use of your employer's benefits instead of driving to mine." But for Laval, using Tesla cars to mine cryptocurrency is not just a gimmick. On the contrary, this is a big part of his plan to turn his Tesla into a "fully automatic taxi" and earn cryptocurrency at any time when he is not driving.
Although Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, boasted about the potential of cars as self-driving taxis, Tesla today is far from autonomous driving. However, Laval believes in such a future. He said: "Tesla Motors will use the proceeds from transportation services and cryptocurrency mining to pay for maintenance expenses, such as maintenance, electricity bills and upgrades, and invest these expenses in a diversified portfolio of emerging cryptocurrency community networks."