A small open-source ASIC born from the community to bring mining back to individuals and strengthen the distribution of the Bitcoin network.
This tutorial was created with the support of DTV Electronics, which provided a Bitaxe Gamma (DTV Electronics Edition) for the creation of this content.
The Bitaxe project was born in 2023 as an open-source initiative led by Scott9000, an active developer in the Bitcoin community and hardware hacker focused on mining distribution. The idea behind the project is simple: take an ASIC chip designed for industrial miners and make it usable in a home-friendly, open-source, and customizable format.
Bitaxe was developed publicly on GitHub, with progressive contributions from the community, and quickly became a reference point in the so-called home mining movement.
Launched in 2024, the Bitaxe Gamma represents the evolution of a family of devices designed to return mining to individual users. It’s not a tool to get rich, but an educational and philosophical project.
The device mounts a single ASIC chip, originally designed for AntMiners, on a custom-designed board equipped with a small cooling fan. Both the software and hardware follow open-source principles, with the sole exception of the ASIC chip, which remains a closed-technology component.
From an economic standpoint, prices range between €100 and €200 depending on the store. On the DTV Electronics website, the price of a Bitaxe Gamma (DTV Electronics Edition) is €101.01.
Unboxing
Opening the package, you’ll find the device already assembled in its case with integrated fan, 5V multi-region power cables, and a multilingual instruction manual.
Technical specifications
The beating heart of the Bitaxe Gamma is the BM1370 chip, the same one used in Bitmain’s Antminer S21 Pro. Below are the device’s technical characteristics:
- Hashrate: 1.2 TH/s in standard configuration, scalable up to 1.6-1.9 TH/s with aggressive overclocking
- Power consumption: 18-20W, with an efficiency of 15-18 joules per terahash
- Connectivity: 2.4GHz Wi-Fi via ESP32-S3 module, USB-C port for debugging, and a 0.91-inch OLED display
- Cooling: 40x40mm PWM fan capable of reaching 7500 RPM
- Power supply: 5V/4-5A, adjustable to 5.2-5.4V for greater stability
- Dimensions: approximately 200x128x70mm
The Gamma model consumes as much as a laptop charger, remaining silent and generating minimal heat.
Advantages of the Bitaxe Gamma
The device stands out first and foremost for its contained costs: with consumption under 20W, even leaving it on 24/7 for an entire month, the impact on the electricity bill translates to just a few euros. Added to this is its quietness: the fan emits only a barely perceptible hum. It’s also hackable and open-source: the AxeOS firmware is fully customizable, allowing you to experiment with custom parameters or integrate the device with your own Bitcoin node. Finally, it represents an ideal educational tool, a way to understand how mining works without having to invest thousands of euros in industrial equipment.
Configuration
Step 1: Power Supply
Connect the 5V cable to the power adapter. Warning: many stability problems stem from voltage drops with cheap power supplies. If possible, use an adjustable power supply set to 5.2-5.4V. If the voltage drops below 4.5V, the device may behave unexpectedly. Also consider using quality cables (14-16 AWG) to minimize voltage losses.
Step 2: First boot
Turn on the device. “Bitaxe_XXXX” will appear on the display after a few seconds of initialization. This is the name of the temporary Wi-Fi network that the Bitaxe Gamma creates for initial configuration.
Step 3: Network connection
Using a smartphone or computer, connect to the “Bitaxe_XXXX” Wi-Fi network. Open a browser and navigate to the IP address shown on the display (typically something like http://192.168.1.X). You’ll find yourself in the AxeOS operating system interface. From here you can monitor hashrate, temperature, uptime, and other statistics in real-time.
Step 4: Wi-Fi network configuration
From the AxeOS interface, enter the SSID (identification name) of the Wi-Fi network (it must be 2.4GHz, not 5GHz) and the corresponding password. Save and restart the device. After reboot, the Bitaxe will automatically connect to the network.
Step 5: mining pool configuration
All Bitaxe units sold by DTV Electronics come preconfigured with the Atlas Pool mining pool, which allows, through a unique address, the lowest possible latency and therefore more chances of finding a block.
To change pools, click on Pool from the AxeOS interface. Here configure:
- Stratum host: the mining pool address (for example solo.ckpool.org for solo mining)
- Port: usually 3333, but may vary
- User: the Bitcoin address where you want to receive potential rewards
- Password: x or leave blank
- Stratum fallback: a backup mining pool in case of problems with the first one. Here too, enter the port, Bitcoin address, and password
Save and restart.
Updates and troubleshooting
Regarding firmware and updates, AxeOS receives regular updates from the community. To update, click on Update and then on Check. If an update is available, download the esp-miner.bin and www.bin files. In Update AxeOS, select the www.bin file and wait about 30 seconds. In Update Firmware, select the esp-miner.bin file and restart the device.
In case of high temperatures, especially above 60/65°C, it’s advisable to check three fundamental elements: the correct positioning of the device (which requires adequate ventilation), the fan operation, and the power supply voltage.
Those who want better performance can consider responsible overclocking, increasing the frequency beyond 800 MHz, but only with a stable power supply between 5.2 and 5.4V and with the fan set to maximum; however, remember that overclocking can damage the chip and void any warranty. From the Settings section, you can modify the frequency and voltage. By visiting the address http://192.168.1.X/#/settings?oc you can modify all system parameters in detail.
Finally, the Bitaxe Gamma can be connected to your personal Bitcoin full-node, creating a completely sovereign ecosystem.
Realistic expectations
With approximately 1.2 TH/s, the chances of finding a block in solo mining are extremely low. Even joining a mining pool, monthly earnings will be in the order of a few euros.
The Bitaxe Gamma is primarily a practical education tool to experience firsthand what proof of work really means.
In an era when mining is dominated by large companies with access to industrial-scale energy, the Bitaxe project demonstrates that it’s still possible to participate in mining in an accessible way that’s coherent with the distributed ethics of the protocol. With an investment of around €100, anyone can become part of the Bitcoin network.
