Salon asks ad-blocking users to opt into cryptocurrency mining instead

This actually seems pretty smart. But even if you get everything right with the user experience, you're probably looking at a fraction of a cent in the time spent reading even a long article.

I've been mining a little Monero for fun lately, and even with decent hardware and the GPU fully engaged, I'm looking at a couple dollars a week from overnight mining.

Is it still profitable when you account for electricity cost?

Even if it is, eventually it won't be as profitable. Inefficient markets will quickly become efficient as equilibrium is reached. There is no free lunch.

We should redouble our ad-blocking efforts.

Remember, your contract with the network is you're going to watch the spots. If you don't want to watch the spots, technically by getting the content you're committing theft of service. And "the network" will find ways to detect thieves and punish them and/or collect their pound of flesh.

duplicate: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16364919