I had an excellent question once from a seminar participant: "What's the average lifespan of a mining rig and what happens to it at the end of it's lifespan? Is it landfill?"

AFAIK some parts might be recycled but the rest is landfill.

I was given 2 S9 antminers and after learning how they operate and testing them out... here are my thoughts. Likely, anyone mining has had a similar trajectory of cranial rumblings.

-They're LOUD. So to keep indoors would require some good sound dampening and piping.

-They aren't currently profitable. (But could be with a lower time preference if the Sats are stacked.) So to use as a heater is intriguing.

-The lifespan of these ASICs is short. So it's basically recycling and landfill after 3-5 years. Not great for sustainability 😐 All that metal and plastic mined. Oooof.

-Should I bother joining a pool or just lottery solo mine? Hm.

And that's where I am with this. Moore's law essentially guarantees the obsolescence of these rather quickly. Which is why a decentralized algo like the Monero one in theory seems better.

I'm open to more thoughts and perspectives. Advice?