Idle computers? Baidu builds mining computing power rental platform

Baidu launched the "Baidu Gold Mine " service, which allows users to rent out their idle computer computing power. One of the uses of this computing power is cryptocurrency mining. This model allows miners to flexibly configure computing power, and also gives idle computer users the opportunity to make a profit.

Translation: Annie_Xu

Baidu will launch a service that lets PC users rent out their idle computing power, making bitcoin mining a potential use.

Baidu, the Chinese Internet search engine giant, announced that it will launch a PC rental service "Baidu Gold Mine" to allow other users to utilize idle computer resources, such as RAM, hard disk space GPU, and broadband bandwidth. The name of the service itself implies that computer users can earn passive income from idle hardware resources. The service is described as a peer-to-peer CDN (content distribution network), a system that aims to help users, especially those in areas with underdeveloped Internet infrastructure, utilize other people's excess computer resources.

Get rich quick?

Baidu has not yet announced how much users can get for renting out their idle computer hardware, or how much people who want to use the service will have to pay. However, the information shows the specifications and considerations of the hardware ranking system, and the system required for "super miners" is at least 16 cores CPU, 64 GB of Ram, 1GB broadband network.

In the past, bitcoin miners used the computing power of cloud computers to mine and exchange the bitcoins and other cryptocurrencies they mined for other currencies, but some speculate that the era of cloud mining is over.

Other ways to rent hash power

However, there are alternatives to cloud mining, such as companies renting out hash power and sharing the network's hash power through a bidding system. NiceHash, which has been working in this field, provides the following information:

“Buyers will receive massive amounts of hashing power across all major hashing algorithms. This allows buyers to mine any coin with hashing power; popular coins or new coins that are on the rise. The unique pay-as-you-go purchasing model gives users complete flexibility and allows them to bid for hashing power in real time without having to sign a long-term contract.”

It’s hard to predict how Baidu Gold Mine will compete, as Baidu has yet to release more information on how it will position the service in the bitcoin mining race.