Crypto Currencies and Mining

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cryptocurrencies
https://www.livecoinwatch.com/
https://prices.org/top/

ROI Calculators:
https://www.cryptocompare.com
https://whattomine.com

Bitcoin mining (only ASIC profitable):
https://www.coindesk.com/information/what-is-bitcoin/
https://blockchain.info/charts
ASIC: https://shop.bitmain.com

Altcoin mining (many ASIC resistant) - GPU Mining rigs:
http://1stminingrig.com/best-mining-rig-hardware-mine-2017/
http://1stminingrig.com/nvidia-geforce-gtx-1060-mining-performance-review/
https://wccftech.com/nvidia-geforce-gtx-1060-cryptocurrency-mining-65w-detailed/
http://www.legitreviews.com/ethereum-hashrate-performance-drop-might-coming-amd-nvidia-gpus-tested_195702
https://cryptowizzard.com/graphics-cards/

Bill of Materials:
https://steemit.com/cryptocurrency/@blockops/how-to-build-and-run-a-6-gpu-mining-rig-for-zcash-or-ethereum-with-nvidia-gtx-1070
https://howtomine.co/2017/12/08/build-mining-rig-electroneum/
https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/59zdjq/an-idiots-guide-to-building-an-ethereum-mining-rig

OS Alternatives: Windows 10, Linux, EthOS, Simple Mining, Pimp OS
Miners: Claymore, Nicehash

Chris runs http://www.miningrigsaustralia.com.au from Silverwater and can build a 6 x GPU (RX580) mining rig for $5,500 in 2 weeks that returns US$29.01/day mining etherium, see details here. One could  build this cheaper (~$4500) but better for first rig to get experienced person to build....furthermore GPUs are really hard to source.

Monthly generated revenue = 30 x US$29.01 = US$870.30/month = AU$1,113.59. This will consume 810watts so monthly electricity cost = 30 x 24 x 0.87 x $0.35 = AU$219.24. Hence monthly profit = AU$894.35 for one rig.

ROI = $5,500 / 894.50 = 6.1 months. 

Pools:

https://www.reddit.com/r/EtherMining/comments/6lycpt/mining_pools_mega_thread/?st=jbjbd0v6&sh=d4abc843
https://www.cryptocompare.com/mining/#/pools
https://nanopool.org/

Wallets:
https://steemit.com/cryptocurrency/@mrilevi/the-top-5-best-altcoin-wallets-an-overview
https://gadgtecs.com/2017/07/15/top-bitcoin-wallets-of-2017/
Coinbase (online exchange)
Blockchain.info (online wallet)
Electrum (software wallet)
Bread (software wallet)
Ledger or Trezor (hardware wallets/dongles)
   - https://www.ledgerwallet.com/
   - https://trezor.io/
Paper wallet (or other cold storage)
   - Bitaddress.org is a good paper wallet generator.

During last few days Bitcoin crashed 40% from record high:
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/12/22/bitcoin-plunges-below-12000-on-coinbase-as-rout-accelerates-now-down-40-percent-from-record.html

Yet this has happened may times in the past, each time recovering and reaching new highs:
2011:

November 2013:

If there is no government/political or lobby group intervention and unregulated crypto currency reaches mainstream then current Bitcoin market cap of $235 billion still looks cheap. 

Most countries use fiat money as currency that a government has declared to be legal tender, but it is not backed by a physical commodity. Fiat/Paper money used to be backed by gold held in a central bank, but this was abandoned all over the world, allowing central banks to print money via processes such as quantitative easing.The value of fiat money is derived from the relationship between supply and demand rather than the value of the material that the money is made of. Historically, most currencies were based on physical commodities such as gold or silver, but fiat money is based solely on the faith just like crypto currencies and credit of the economy. M2 money supply, depending on which ones you look at globally, could be $50 trillion to $100 trillion. If you look at all the fiat denominated assets and liabilities, it’s hundreds of trillions of dollars so bitcoin looks cheap. 

Within a decade we will using digital currency, so it is not a question of whether digital currencies will succeed, it is really a question whether unregulated digital currencies will be allowed to succeed.
 

I personally would like unregulated crypto to succeed, yet the elites have too much to lose if the they can not control and monetise crypto currencies. Certainly IMF/central banks are already working with banks and governments to produce a digital currency alternative that can be controlled, A regulated government supported digital currency would enable access to all of citizens financial transactions, essentially eliminating privacy....furthermore the banking elites would still be able to monetise on transaction fees.

Update 30/12/3017 - Banks are freezing customer accounts with bitcoin transactions:
http://www.smh.com.au/business/bitcoin-tensions-rise-as-investors-claim-banks-freezing-their-accounts-20171229-p4yy3z.html

There is no official policy banning crypto currencies so why are the banks freezing customer accounts? The big banks don't seem to have a problem with systematic money laundering operations that were known since 2012, yet quick to make life difficult for customers using  crypto currencies without an official policy. Seems to me that already big banks are trying to shut down crypto currencies. The war against crypto currencies by government/banking elites has already started! 

Update 13/3/3018 - IMF suggests crypto is vehicle for money laundering and the financing of terrorism:
https://blogs.imf.org/2018/03/13/addressing-the-dark-side-of-the-crypto-world/