Buying ASIC Miners on eBay: A Risk Checklist

Demand a photo of the miner's own status page showing per-board hashrate, chip count, temperatures and uptime — not a stock product image. Check the serial label matches the photos, and look for mismatched screws, missing shroud stickers, dust patterns inconsistent with the claimed hours, and coolant staining on hydro units.

Vague phrases are the tell: 'powered on last used', 'untested', 'as-is', 'for parts or repair'. Those mean the seller either knows there is a fault or has not checked. Price accordingly or move on.

Ask for the exact model and revision, hashrate under load for at least an hour, firmware version and whether it is stock or custom, whether the PSU is included and original, the number of dead or degraded chips, and why it is being sold. A seller with tested inventory answers in one message.

Ask whether the machine was hydro, immersion or air cooled during its life. Immersion units may have fluid residue and non-standard fan setups; hydro units need a working loop and are not a plug-in purchase.

Add shipping, import duty, VAT or GST, a PSU if excluded, and likely repair cost, then divide by real hashrate to get delivered cost per terahash. Compare that number — not the auction price — against a tested unit from a supplier. Auctions frequently lose once freight and duty land.

Set a hard ceiling before bidding and do not chase. Legacy hardware is abundant; there is always another listing next week.

Pay only through the platform, never by bank transfer, crypto or gift card off-platform. Record an unboxing video, test within the returns window, and open a case with evidence immediately if the machine does not match the description. Do not accept an offer to move the deal off eBay to 'save fees' — that removes every protection you have.

Check the seller's feedback specifically on mining hardware, not general electronics, and be cautious with new accounts selling multiple high-value units.

A tested supplier bench-tests under load, verifies hashboards chip by chip, ships in proper foam-and-carton packaging, handles customs paperwork and stands behind a functional warranty. On used flagship hardware that difference is often worth more than the auction discount.

Every used and refurbished unit we ship from Hong Kong is load-tested with firmware installed and a limited functional warranty, with worldwide tracked freight and duties itemised before you pay. Compare our delivered price per terahash against the auction total before you bid.