London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Jul 13, 2026

Internet Cafe Owners in China Have Turned to Crypto Miners Amid COVID-19

Internet Cafe Owners in China Have Turned to Crypto Miners Amid COVID-19

The Coronavirus pandemic has driven people to take advantage of new business lines to deal with the economic crisis, and cryptocurrency is once again a headliner. Internet cafe owners in China are using their facilities to set up crypto mining farms after temporarily shutting down in 2020.
Owners Are Earning Around $6,200 Monthly


According to Sina, quoting a recently published report, almost 13,000 internet-fueled cafes that operate 24 hours a day, are depending on their high-end computers to mine digital assets, as their PCs were originally conditioned for gamers.

Some of them claim to earn over 40,000 yuan ($6,200) worth in virtual currencies on a monthly basis.

The report states that some owners are even using 200 computers to run mining operations. Wang Xi, a Chinese internet cafe proprietary, commented that the attendance in his business is still “not high.”

“Working days are less than 50%, and mining is done when computers are idle,” he added.

The cafe-based mining farm owner claims to have earned over 200,000 yuan ($31,000) since September 2020. He stated that some of his colleagues turned to digital asset mining because of its profitability:

“Due to the impact of last year’s epidemic, Internet cafes were closed for a long time, and the flow of people was not particularly large. Only recently has it improved slightly. As far as I know, most Internet cafes in the entire Nantong urban area have chosen to mine.”

He also provided further technical details on his mining rig:

“I have a shop computer that uses a 1060 5GB graphics card. The mining power is 15 MB, and the income per trillion is 0.8 yuan. If you calculate the amount of 100 computers, the monthly income is 37,000 yuan ($5,750). The electricity consumption in the industry is only 0.6 yuan/kWh.“

South Korean Internet Cafe Owners Are Also Profiting From Crypto Mining
Another owner quoted by the report, Zhang Li, who talked under a pseudonym, believes “mining is definitely the best choice that can be made within the scope of limited resources.” Crypto mining already allowed him to yield profits of around $7,750 monthly.

This maneuver to deal with the pandemic-driven crisis is not the first-of-its-kind in Asia. Internet cafe owners, known as “PC bangs,” in Seoul, South Korea, are mining ether (ETH). The PC bangs are also relying on highly-end computers with top-notch graphic cards in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis.

Source: Internet Cafe Owners in China Have Turned to Crypto Miners Amid COVID-19 – Fintechs.fi

Follow Fintechs.fi on Twitter and Facebook!

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
World Cup Visitors Turn American Big-Box Stores Into Souvenir Stops
Netflix Weighs Always-On Channels, Bundles and Short-Form Video
Passenger Is Pulled Partly Outside Ryanair Jet After Window Fails Mid-Flight
Innovation-led growth strategy
Public service reform pressure
Defence and industrial security
Labour leadership transition and economic reset
Northern England Pushes for Greater Influence in Britain’s Future Economic Model
UK Technology Strategy Focuses on Life Sciences, Digital Innovation and Research Investment
Britain and United States Maintain Focus on Pharmaceuticals Cooperation and Industrial Growth
UK Public Services Face Continued Pressure as Government Promises Visible Improvements
Regional Economic Power Becomes Key Theme in Britain’s Next Political Phase
Britain Expands Support for Small Businesses as Firms Seek Better Access to Finance
UK Economy Remains Central Political Challenge as Cost of Living and Growth Concerns Persist
National Health Service Introduces New Workplace Reviews to Improve Conditions for Healthcare Staff
UK Life Sciences Sector Secures More Than Three Billion Pounds in Investment to Support Innovation
Britain Strengthens Defence Strategy as Security Concerns Reshape Military and Industrial Policy
Andy Burnham Promises Stronger UK Defence Industry and Expanded Domestic Production
UK Government Faces Difficult Spending Choices as Labour Leadership Transition Approaches
Rachel Reeves Warns Andy Burnham of Immediate Economic Challenges After Expected Leadership Change
Andy Burnham Prepares to Lead UK Government With Plans for Regional Power Shift and Economic Reset
Government Creates Emergency Support Scheme for Financially Struggling Universities
United Kingdom Replaces Traditional Farm Subsidies With Payments Linked to Environmental Performance
National Grid Reports First Week of Electricity Generation Without Fossil Fuels
United Kingdom Financial Regulator Introduces Tougher Capital Rules for Cryptocurrency Exchanges
Belfast Harbour Expands Operations to Attract Investment Through United Kingdom and European Union Market Access
Scottish Government Threatens Legal Challenge Over Westminster Cuts to North Sea Transition Funding
United Kingdom Accelerates Trans-Pennine High-Speed Rail Project Linking Northern Cities
United Kingdom Secures Ten Billion Pound Investment for Cambridge Quantum Computing Campus
Port Talbot Steelworks Wins Support for Green Hydrogen Transition and Protection of Industrial Jobs
United Kingdom Sends Royal Navy Carrier Strike Group to Indo-Pacific as Regional Security Focus Expands
National Health Service Expands Artificial Intelligence Diagnostics Across England to Reduce Screening Backlogs
United Kingdom Launches Fifty Billion Pound Infrastructure Fund to Accelerate Housing and Construction
UK Medical Chiefs Update Health Guidance to Promote Everyday Physical Activity
Office of Communications Keeps Wikipedia Under Review Under UK Online Safety Rules
UK Defence Ministry Expands Deep-Strike Capability Through Precision Missile Programme
Russell Group Universities Warn Funding Cuts Could Damage NHS Workforce Training
UK Parliament Calls for National Emergency Broadcast as Heatwave Conditions Intensify
UK and Netherlands Strengthen Naval Cooperation With New Amphibious Defence Partnership
UK Defence Ministry Joins International Missile Programme With One Hundred and Ninety Million Pound Investment
Bank of England Warns Middle East Conflict and AI Risks Could Pressure UK Economy
UK Government Introduces New Rules to Limit Foreign Influence in Political Donations
UK and France Prepare Naval Mission to Protect Shipping Through Strait of Hormuz
United States Pressures UK to Increase Defence Spending at NATO Summit
Bank of England Warns Artificial Intelligence Investment Boom Could Create Financial Stability Risks
Bank of England Begins Direct Oversight of Critical Technology Providers Supporting UK Finance
Andy Burnham Set to Become UK Prime Minister After Labour Leadership Race Clears Path to Downing Street
Scottish Fishing Industry Calls for Emergency Support Amid Rising Costs
UK Supports Stronger European Response to Russian Actions in Ukraine
Devon and Cornwall Police Release Suspect in Ann Widdecombe Murder Investigation
×