Bitaxe: Open-Source Bitcoin Mining Revolution

In a world dominated by industrial-scale Bitcoin mining farms and proprietary hardware, Bitaxe brings a breath of fresh air—a fully open-source, single-board Bitcoin miner that’s not only hackable and customizable but also surprisingly efficient for solo and hobby miners. Whether you're an engineer, hobbyist, or Bitcoin maximalist, Bitaxe gives you the chance to own and modify your miner down to the silicon.

What is Bitaxe?

Bitaxe is an open-source Bitcoin ASIC miner, designed to be compact, affordable, and completely transparent in its hardware and software design. Unlike large commercial mining rigs that cost thousands of dollars and are closed systems, Bitaxe is built for experimentation, education, and even small-scale solo mining.

At its core, Bitaxe is a DIY miner board powered by a real Bitcoin ASIC chip—the same chips used in large commercial mining hardware like Antminers or Whatsminers. But unlike those rigs, Bitaxe is a single-board solution where the control, interface, and hashboard are all integrated into one compact PCB.

Who Built Bitaxe?

Bitaxe was developed by @skot, a passionate open-source hardware developer and contributor to the Open Source Miners United (OSMU) community. The goal was to create a miner that anyone can build, understand, and modify—while still achieving real Bitcoin mining capability using actual ASIC chips.

How Does Bitaxe Work?

Bitaxe works just like any other Bitcoin ASIC miner—but on a smaller scale. It connects directly to mining pools or your own Bitcoin node via Wi-Fi and starts hashing using its onboard ASIC chip.

Here’s what makes it special:

• Integrated Design: It combines control unit (usually an ESP32-S3), power regulator, and hashboard in a single board.

• Real ASIC Chips: Each Bitaxe model uses a real-world ASIC chip like BM1397, BM1398, BM1399, etc.

• Open Firmware: It runs OpenAxe firmware, allowing easy tuning, optimization, and custom mining configurations.

• Web Interface: Bitaxe has a built-in web dashboard for real-time stats and configuration.

Bitaxe is most commonly used for solo mining using tools like ckpool or for educational purposes.

Bitaxe Models and ASIC Chips

There are currently several models of Bitaxe, each using different generations of ASIC chips from Bitmain or Whatsminer. Here's a quick rundown:

Note: Hashrate and power consumption can vary depending on firmware tuning, voltage, and cooling setup.

What Can You Do With a Bitaxe?

• Solo Mine Bitcoin: Connect it to a solo pool like ckpool.org and try your luck. The chances are low, but it’s a real experience.

• Learn Hardware/Software: If you're an engineer, developer, or student, Bitaxe is a goldmine of educational value.

• Tinker and Innovate: Modify firmware, add sensors, or even chain multiple boards together.

• Show Off: It’s a cool conversation piece for any Bitcoin enthusiast or builder.

Price and Availability

Bitaxe boards are not mass-produced but are available via:

• Self-assembly (open-source Gerber files, BOM available on GitHub)

• Pre-assembled boards from community vendors like Bitaxe.org, [SeedSigner.com], or [eBay sellers]

Prices vary based on the model and chip scarcity, ranging from $80 to $250+ depending on the chip and assembly.

Is Bitaxe Worth It?

If you're looking to get rich from mining—no, Bitaxe isn’t for you.

But if you want to:

• Understand the real mechanics of Bitcoin mining

• Learn how ASICs and firmware work

• Support open-source Bitcoin hardware

• Or just have a fun side project…

Then Bitaxe is 100% worth it.

Final Thoughts

Bitaxe is not just a miner—it’s a movement. A reminder that Bitcoin belongs to the people. In a landscape full of secretive mining companies and black-box hardware, Bitaxe is open, hackable, and empowering.

Whether you're solo mining for fun or exploring the cutting edge of Bitcoin hardware, Bitaxe is your portal into the deeper layers of the Bitcoin protocol.