Sure, I'm not saying nvidia would just decide to stop shipping tomorrow. However, if crypto is really viable and long-term profitable, it wouldn't make a ton of sense for them to give their potential competitors (e.g. anyone else who wants to mine) capital equipment at what would amount to a loss.
They could subcontract the operation of the mining equipment to third parties so they make a profit immediately selling the mining hardware, and skim as much mining profit as possible while their subcontractors assume all the risk.
(Just using nvidia as an example, but this model would work well for anyone making hardware that's capable of mining at scale).
> if crypto [mining] is really viable and long-term profitable
This is still a big if, with the most profitable gpu mining crypto moving to proof of stake in the next few years it's unclear if gpu mining will be as viable.
They could subcontract the operation of the mining equipment to third parties so they make a profit immediately selling the mining hardware, and skim as much mining profit as possible while their subcontractors assume all the risk.
(Just using nvidia as an example, but this model would work well for anyone making hardware that's capable of mining at scale).