Hey gigafart,
Great post, and cool history. I too have been in since early, but i'm not a miner. I got involved with buying a robocoin machine right after the first one went live in Vancouver in 2013 (had already been in for nesrly a year at that point).
Anyway, there has been (as i'm sure you recall) a ton of crap to deal with re: robocoin. It's a long story, but i'll be quick... we shipped our 9mo delayed robo to Japan to be set up in a "sure spot" with a reliable operator. It didn't work. Weeks of tech bs occurred and then...it worked -- for 9 days. Then robocoin shat their entire bed...
Time went by. Slowly. My partner and i argued. Things were shit and we still owed large dollars (to finance machine) and it wasn't working. We changed its brain to GeneralBytes. Dude in japan couldn't get it to work.
Years went by. We persevered and stayed involved in the crypto scene, then
3 months ago we got it shipped home. We found a spot, got hooked in with bitcoiniacs, and BOOM! Got it lit up.
It's now been running for nearly a month and earning money. We are vindicated! And as you say, rewarded for our perseverance.
We're not making huge money or anything, but, we're doing it. Making our dream of bringing more bitcoin to more people a reality.
Our machine is at 3rd st and Lonsdale in North Vancouver!
Just wanted to tell my story in support of your thesis. Keep on keeping on!
Cheers! from thedamus
Yes, I've heard tons of bad shit about robocoin over the years xD
I'm so glad it worked out for you, despite the stress of it all. I'm sure you're a crypto ATM wizard now, and getting your next machine(s) up and running will be 1/100th of the effort. Vancouver sounds like a great market to tap. Maybe you'll try Japan again, someday.
Thanks gigafart! Back atcha...best i can do right now (re: uv)
I have done two stories on bitcoin ATM's -- the original location at 900 Howe, and then recently, the honeybadger machine at Granville&Smithe.
Next one will be on my own spot :)
Cheers! You're def one of the good guys
thedamus