We do not publish fixed payback estimates because BTC price and network difficulty (two of the four inputs) change constantly. Use our profitability calculator to model scenarios.
What Is the Payback Period on a Hosted Bitcoin Miner?#
The payback period on a hosted bitcoin miner is the number of days until the machine's cumulative net mining income (revenue minus the hosting electricity bill) equals what you paid for it plus setup fees. There is no fixed figure: it moves with bitcoin's price and network difficulty, so estimate yours in our profitability calculator.
For a dated reference point: at the September 6, 2026 snapshot in our revenue per TH/s guide, a Whatsminer M70 hosted at $0.07/kWh kept an estimated $3.20 to $3.70 a day after power, before pool fees. Divide your quoted hardware cost plus the $30 installation fee by a daily figure like that, then re-run it at a higher difficulty, because the figure changes at every retarget. The formula:
Payback Period = Total Investment ÷ Daily Net Income- Total Investment =
- Hardware cost + $30 installation fee (at Fathom Labs)
- Daily Net Income =
- Daily revenue (BTC mined × BTC price) minus daily electricity cost
Factor 1: Hardware Cost#
Hardware cost is the largest one time input to payback period. Higher cost = longer payback, all else equal. At Fathom Labs, total upfront cost is hardware price plus the $30 installation fee.
| Model | Hashrate | Efficiency | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whatsminer M70 | 214 to 242 TH/s | ~14.5 J/TH | Contact for price |
| Whatsminer M70S | 226 to 264 TH/s | ~13.5 J/TH | Contact for price |
| Whatsminer M73 | 470 to 526 TH/s | 14.5 J/TH | Contact for price |
Factor 2: Electricity Rate#
Electricity is the largest recurring cost. Every dollar saved on electricity is a dollar more of net income per day, which directly shortens payback. Our bitcoin mining hosting rate is $0.07/kWh all in for miners bought from us.
Monthly electricity cost, Whatsminer M70S (example at a typical 3,500 W draw, 24/7)
- At $0.07/kWh (Fathom Labs):
- 3.5 kW × 720 h × $0.07 = $176.40/month
- At $0.183/kWh (US residential avg, July 2026, EIA):
- 3.5 kW × 720 h × $0.183 = $461.16/month
- Monthly difference:
- ~$285/month per machine
Cost calculation only. Revenue and net income depend on BTC price and network difficulty.
Factor 3: Energy Efficiency (J/TH)#
Hardware with a lower J/TH earns the same hashing revenue at lower electricity cost. For two machines with similar hashrate and price, the one with the lower J/TH will have higher daily net income and a shorter payback period. Each Whatsminer we host lists its J/TH rating: ~13.5 J/TH for the M70S and ~14.5 J/TH for the M70 and M73. See our J/TH efficiency guide.
To see how J/TH translates into daily net profit per TH/s across different electricity rates, see the Bitcoin Mining Profitability Guide: revenue per TH/s, break even, and the five variables.
Factor 4: Mining Reward Rate#
Daily BTC earned = a function of your hashrate, total network hashrate, and the block subsidy. The subsidy is fixed at 3.125 BTC per block since the April 2024 halving, unchanged until the next halving (~April 2028). What changes every ~2 weeks is network difficulty, which determines how much of each block’s reward your machines capture.
As of early June 2026, network difficulty was approximately 139 T, having fallen ~10.7% across six adjustments in 2026. Lower difficulty = more BTC per day per TH = shorter payback at the same BTC price. See our difficulty and ROI guide for more.