Choosing the right firmware for your Antminer is one of the highest-impact decisions you can make as a home miner. The firmware running on your ASIC miner controls everything — autotuning algorithms, power efficiency, thermal management, monitoring dashboards, and ultimately your profitability per kilowatt-hour. Yet most miners run stock Bitmain firmware by default, leaving significant hashrate and efficiency gains on the table.
The problem? Not every firmware runs on every Antminer model. Compatibility varies by generation, ASIC chip, and control board revision. Flash the wrong firmware and you could brick your miner or void your warranty. This reference guide maps every major Antminer model against every major firmware option — stock Bitmain, Braiins OS+, Vnish, and LuxOS — so you can make an informed decision before you flash.
Whether you are undervolting an S19j Pro to run as a silent space heater, overclocking an S21 for maximum hashrate, or squeezing every last joule per terahash out of legacy S9 hardware, the firmware compatibility matrix below has you covered.
Why Firmware Choice Matters
Stock Bitmain firmware ships with conservative power profiles and limited configurability. Third-party firmware unlocks capabilities that directly affect your bottom line:
- Autotuning — Automatically finds the optimal voltage and frequency for each individual ASIC chip on every hashboard. This alone can improve efficiency by 10–25% compared to stock settings.
- Undervolting / Underclocking — Critical for home miners running on 120V circuits or using miners as space heaters. Lower power draw means lower noise, lower heat, and lower electricity costs while still earning sats.
- Overclocking — Push your hardware beyond stock hashrate when you have surplus power capacity and adequate cooling. Some firmware can extract 15–20% more hashrate from the same machine.
- Immersion Mode — Disables fan control for immersion-cooled setups. Without immersion-compatible firmware, submerged miners will throw constant fan errors.
- Advanced Monitoring — Per-chip temperature readings, real-time efficiency metrics, hashboard health diagnostics, and remote management dashboards that stock firmware simply does not provide.
- Stratum V2 Support — Braiins OS+ supports Stratum V2, enabling miners to construct their own block templates. This is a meaningful step toward mining decentralization — something every cypherpunk miner should care about.
- Dev Fee vs. Efficiency Trade-off — Some firmware charges a dev fee (a percentage of your hashrate directed to the firmware developer’s pool). Understanding these fees relative to the efficiency gains is essential to calculating true ROI.
The right firmware for your setup depends on your model, your goals (efficiency vs. hashrate vs. silence), and your infrastructure (air-cooled, immersion, 120V vs. 240V). The matrix below gives you the compatibility facts. The decision framework that follows helps you choose.
Firmware Overview
Before diving into the compatibility matrix, here is a brief overview of each firmware option and what it brings to the table.
Stock Bitmain Firmware
The default firmware that ships on every Antminer. It is stable, it is supported by Bitmain’s warranty, and it is limited. Stock firmware offers basic pool configuration, rudimentary monitoring, and fixed power profiles (Normal, Low Power, and on newer models, Sleep mode). No autotuning, no per-chip optimization, no immersion mode, no Stratum V2. For home miners who want to push their hardware further — or simply run it quieter — stock firmware is the baseline you graduate from.
Braiins OS+
Braiins OS+ is the only fully open-source Antminer firmware. Developed by Braiins (the team behind Slush Pool / Braiins Pool), it features industry-leading autotuning that optimizes each chip individually, Stratum V2 support for decentralized block template construction, immersion mode, and a powerful remote management tool called Braiins Farm Monitor. The dev fee is approximately 2% of hashrate when autotuning is enabled (directed to Braiins Pool), reduced if you mine on Braiins Pool directly. Its open-source nature means the community can audit the code — no black boxes. For a full walkthrough, see our Braiins OS+ Setup & Configuration Guide.
Vnish Firmware
Vnish is a proprietary firmware with a reputation for aggressive autotuning and fine-grained control. It offers per-chip tuning, immersion mode, advanced overclocking profiles, a built-in web dashboard for fleet management, and one of the most granular sets of power/frequency controls available. The dev fee is approximately 2% of hashrate. Vnish is popular among miners who want to push hardware to its absolute limits while maintaining stability. It supports a wide range of Antminer models, including some legacy hardware. See our Vnish Firmware Guide for installation and configuration details.
LuxOS
LuxOS is developed by Luxor Technology and stands out with one key advantage: zero dev fee. That means 100% of your hashrate goes to your pool of choice. LuxOS offers autotuning, immersion mode, curtailment profiles (automatically adjust power based on energy price signals), and LuxOS Manager for remote fleet management. It is a newer entrant compared to Braiins and Vnish, which means model support is growing but not yet as broad — primarily covering the S19 and S21 families. Our LuxOS Firmware Guide covers the full setup process.
D-Central’s Pre-Flashed Control Boards
If you would rather skip the firmware flashing process entirely, D-Central offers the Antminer Control Board C52 with BraiinsOS pre-installed. Drop it into a compatible Antminer (S19, S19j Pro, T19, or T17e), connect your hashboards, and you are running Braiins OS+ with autotuning from the moment you power on. No SD cards, no SSH commands, no risk of a failed flash. This is the Mining Hacker shortcut — plug, play, and autotune.
Antminer Firmware Compatibility Matrix
The table below maps every major Antminer model against each firmware option. A checkmark (✅) indicates full compatibility and support. A cross (❌) means the firmware does not support that model. Partial support is noted where applicable. This matrix reflects the state of firmware releases as of early 2026 — firmware developers regularly expand model support, so always verify against the latest release notes before flashing.
| Model | ASIC Chip | Stock | Braiins OS+ | Vnish | LuxOS | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SHA-256 — Legacy (Pre-S19) | ||||||
| Antminer S9 | BM1387 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | Best-supported legacy model. Excellent for space heater builds with undervolting. |
| Antminer S9i | BM1387 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | Same chip as S9, same firmware compatibility. |
| Antminer S9j | BM1387 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | Same chip as S9, same firmware compatibility. |
| Antminer S15 | BM1391 | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Very limited third-party firmware support. Short production run, low install base. |
| Antminer T15 | BM1391 | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Same generation as S15. Stock firmware only. |
| SHA-256 — 17 Series | ||||||
| Antminer S17 | BM1397 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | Dual-tube heatsink design. Prone to hashboard failures — firmware autotuning helps extend life. |
| Antminer S17+ | BM1397 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | Improved thermal design over S17. Good candidate for space heater conversions. |
| Antminer S17 Pro | BM1397 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | Higher stock hashrate variant. Same firmware compatibility as S17. |
| Antminer S17e | BM1397 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | Economy variant. Compatible with D-Central’s pre-flashed C52 control board. |
| Antminer T17 | BM1397 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | Budget 17-series. Popular in D-Central’s space heater conversions. |
| Antminer T17+ | BM1397 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | Improved variant with better cooling. Same firmware support as T17. |
| Antminer T17e | BM1397 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | Economy variant. Compatible with D-Central’s pre-flashed C52 control board. |
| SHA-256 — 19 Series (BM1362/BM1398) | ||||||
| Antminer T19 | BM1398 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Good firmware support across all options. Compatible with D-Central’s C52 board. |
| Antminer S19 | BM1398 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Excellent support across all firmware. Popular for undervolting and space heaters. |
| Antminer S19 Pro | BM1398 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | 110 TH/s stock. Autotuning can push past 120 TH/s with adequate cooling. |
| Antminer S19a | BM1398 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Revised thermal design. Same chip, same firmware compatibility as S19. |
| Antminer S19a Pro | BM1398 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Pro variant of S19a. Full firmware ecosystem support. |
| Antminer S19j | BM1398 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Cost-optimized variant. Full third-party firmware support. |
| Antminer S19j Pro | BM1398 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Most popular model for custom firmware. Reliable, efficient, huge install base. Compatible with D-Central’s C52 board. |
| Antminer S19j Pro+ | BM1398 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Higher-binned BM1398 chips. Excellent overclocking headroom with autotuning. |
| SHA-256 — 19 Series (BM1366/BM1368) | ||||||
| Antminer S19k Pro | BM1366 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Next-gen BM1366 chip in 19-series form factor. Excellent efficiency gains with autotuning. |
| Antminer S19 XP | BM1366 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | 140 TH/s stock, ~21.5 J/TH. All major firmware supported. Flagship 19-series. |
| Antminer S19 Hydro | BM1398 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | Water-cooled variant. Requires immersion/hydro mode in firmware. Limited LuxOS support. |
| SHA-256 — 21 Series (Current Gen) | ||||||
| Antminer S21 | BM1370 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | 200 TH/s, ~17.5 J/TH. Full firmware ecosystem support. Latest-gen workhorse. |
| Antminer S21 Pro | BM1370 | ✅ | ✅ (partial) | ✅ | ❌ | Newer release — Braiins support in progress. Vnish added support first. LuxOS expected later. |
| Antminer S21 XP | BM1370 | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Too new for third-party firmware. Expect support from Braiins and Vnish first. |
| Antminer S21 Hydro | BM1370 | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Water-cooled S21. No third-party firmware yet due to unique cooling control requirements. |
| Antminer T21 | BM1370 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | Budget 21-series. Braiins and Vnish support available. LuxOS expected. |
| Scrypt (Litecoin/Dogecoin) | ||||||
| Antminer L3+ | BM1485 | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | Scrypt algorithm. Braiins OS+ is the only major third-party option. Great for space heater builds. |
| Antminer L7 | BM1800 | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | Current-gen Scrypt miner. Braiins OS+ support only for third-party firmware. |
Important: This matrix reflects firmware support as of February 2026. Third-party firmware developers ship updates frequently — especially for newer models. Always check the official documentation for Braiins OS+, Vnish, and LuxOS before flashing. If you are unsure about your specific model revision, contact D-Central — we have tested firmware on virtually every Antminer variant.
Firmware Feature Comparison
Beyond model compatibility, each firmware differs in the features it offers. The table below compares the key capabilities that matter most to home miners and small-scale operators.
| Feature | Stock Bitmain | Braiins OS+ | Vnish | LuxOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Autotuning | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Per-Chip Voltage Control | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Dev Fee | 0% | ~2% | ~2% | 0% |
| Immersion Mode | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Stratum V2 | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Open Source | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Remote Fleet Management | ❌ | ✅ Farm Monitor | ✅ Dashboard | ✅ LuxOS Manager |
| Curtailment / Demand Response | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Power Target (Watt Limit) | Limited profiles | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Overclocking | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Per-Chip Temperature Monitoring | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Fan Speed Control | Limited | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| SSH Access | Locked (newer models) | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Custom Pool Configuration | 3 pools max | ✅ Unlimited groups | ✅ Multi-pool | ✅ Multi-pool |
| Hashboard Diagnostics | Basic | ✅ Detailed | ✅ Detailed | ✅ Detailed |
| Warranty Impact | Preserves | May void | May void | May void |
How to Choose the Right Firmware
With four firmware options on the table, here is a practical decision framework based on your specific use case and priorities.
Choose Braiins OS+ If…
- You value open-source transparency and want to audit the firmware code yourself
- You want Stratum V2 support to contribute to mining decentralization
- You already mine on Braiins Pool (reduced dev fee when using their pool)
- You need reliable autotuning with proven stability across thousands of deployments
- You want D-Central’s pre-flashed C52 control board for a plug-and-play upgrade
- You run S9, S17/T17, or S19/S21 series hardware
Choose Vnish If…
- You want the most aggressive autotuning and are willing to push hardware closer to its thermal limits
- You need maximum overclocking headroom and fine-grained frequency/voltage control
- You operate a fleet of miners and need the built-in web-based dashboard
- You need firmware for newer models that Braiins has not yet fully supported (Vnish often adds support first)
- You are comfortable with closed-source firmware in exchange for raw performance
Choose LuxOS If…
- The zero dev fee is your top priority — every terahash goes to your pool
- You need curtailment and demand response features (automatically adjust power based on electricity price signals)
- You run S19 or S21 series models (LuxOS’s primary supported range)
- You want LuxOS Manager for centralized fleet control
- You are on a time-of-use electricity plan and want firmware-level scheduling
Stay on Stock Bitmain If…
- Your miner is under warranty and you do not want to risk voiding it
- You run a model with no third-party support (S15, T15, S21 XP)
- You want the simplest possible setup with no dev fees and no flashing risk
- You are mining at stock settings and do not need undervolting, overclocking, or immersion mode
Control Board Compatibility Notes
An important nuance that the compatibility matrix alone does not capture: firmware compatibility depends not just on the miner model but on the control board revision. Bitmain uses several control board families across the Antminer lineup:
- BeagleBone (BB) boards — Found in older S9-era miners. Fully supported by Braiins OS+ and Vnish.
- Xilinx Zynq (C49/C52) boards — Used in 17-series and early 19-series miners. Well-supported by all third-party firmware. This is the board in D-Central’s pre-flashed BraiinsOS product.
- AMLogic (C76/C81) boards — Found in some 19-series variants and newer models. Braiins and Vnish support most revisions.
- CVITEK (C97) boards — Used in S21 and newer models. Third-party firmware support depends on the specific revision.
If you are flashing firmware and encounter errors, the control board revision is often the culprit. Check the label on your control board or query the miner’s web interface to identify the exact board model before selecting a firmware image. Our Antminer Firmware Update Guide walks through the identification and flashing process for every board type.
D-Central’s Pre-Flashed BraiinsOS Control Board
For miners who want the benefits of Braiins OS+ without the flashing process, D-Central offers a hardware solution: the Antminer Control Board C52 with BraiinsOS pre-installed.
This is a drop-in replacement control board that ships with Braiins OS+ already configured and ready to run. Compatible models include:
- Antminer S19 (all variants)
- Antminer S19j Pro
- Antminer T19
- Antminer T17e / S17e
Why go the hardware route? Several reasons. First, you keep your original control board intact as a backup — if you ever need to revert to stock firmware, just swap boards. Second, it eliminates flashing risk entirely: no SD card preparation, no SSH sessions, no bricked miners. Third, it is tested and verified by D-Central before shipping. We flash it, we test it, we ship it. This is what Mining Hackers do — we take the friction out of optimization so you can focus on stacking sats.
Firmware Installation Resources
Ready to flash? These D-Central guides walk you through every step of the process:
- Antminer Firmware Update Guide — The master guide covering stock, Braiins OS+, Vnish, and LuxOS installation methods for every Antminer model. Start here.
- Braiins OS+ Setup & Configuration Guide — Deep dive into Braiins OS+ installation, autotuning configuration, Stratum V2 setup, and power management profiles.
- Vnish Firmware Guide — Complete Vnish installation, configuration, overclocking profiles, and fleet management walkthrough.
- LuxOS Firmware Guide — LuxOS installation, autotuning, curtailment configuration, and LuxOS Manager setup.
- SD Card Firmware Flashing & Recovery Guide — If a flash goes wrong, this guide covers SD card recovery methods for every control board type.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will installing third-party firmware void my Bitmain warranty?
In most cases, yes. Bitmain’s warranty terms generally do not cover miners running third-party firmware. However, Braiins OS+ and most third-party firmware can be uninstalled and reverted to stock firmware before sending a miner for warranty service. Practically speaking, if your miner is out of warranty — which is the case for the vast majority of S9, S17, and S19 units in the field — there is no downside to upgrading firmware.
Can I brick my miner by flashing firmware?
The risk is very low but not zero. Modern Antminer control boards have recovery mechanisms — most can be restored via an SD card flash even if the primary firmware fails. The most common causes of bricking are power interruptions during flashing and using the wrong firmware image for your control board revision. Follow our firmware update guide carefully, and always have the SD card recovery image on hand before you start. If you want zero flashing risk, D-Central’s pre-flashed C52 control board eliminates the issue entirely.
What is a dev fee and how does it affect profitability?
A dev fee is a percentage of your hashrate that the firmware redirects to the developer’s mining pool as payment for the software. Braiins OS+ and Vnish both charge approximately 2%. This means ~2% of your mining time mines for the firmware developer, not you. Whether the dev fee is worth it depends on the efficiency gains. If autotuning improves your J/TH by 15% while costing 2% of hashrate, you are still significantly ahead. LuxOS charges 0% dev fee, making it attractive for miners who want autotuning without the hashrate cost.
Can I run third-party firmware on a 120V circuit?
Absolutely — and that is one of the primary reasons home miners use it. Third-party firmware’s power-limiting capability lets you set a wattage cap that keeps the miner within your circuit’s capacity. For example, an S19j Pro on stock firmware draws ~3,050W (requires 240V). With Braiins OS+ or Vnish, you can set a power target of ~1,400W, which is safe on a dedicated 120V/15A circuit. You lose hashrate proportionally, but the miner runs safely and efficiently. See our 120V Bitcoin Mining Guide for detailed calculations.
Why does the S21 XP have no third-party firmware support?
Third-party firmware support follows hardware release timelines with a delay. Firmware developers need physical access to the hardware, time to reverse-engineer the control board and ASIC chip communication protocols, and a testing period before public release. The S21 XP is Bitmain’s newest flagship — give it 3–6 months and expect Braiins and Vnish to add support first, followed by LuxOS. In the meantime, stock firmware on the S21 XP is already quite efficient given the BM1370 chip.
Which firmware is best for running a miner as a space heater?
For space heater builds, the critical firmware feature is precise power targeting — the ability to set exactly how many watts the miner draws. All three third-party options (Braiins OS+, Vnish, LuxOS) support this. Braiins OS+ is our top recommendation for space heater builds because it is proven, stable, and the autotuning handles the efficiency optimization automatically. Combined with D-Central’s Space Heater Editions, you get a miner that outputs exactly the heat you want while stacking sats.
Can I switch between firmware without losing my mining configuration?
Switching firmware typically means a clean install — your pool configurations, power targets, and tuning profiles will not carry over between different firmware. You will need to reconfigure your pool URLs, worker names, and power settings after each firmware change. Keep a record of your configurations (pool addresses, worker names, power targets, fan settings) before switching. Some firmware supports configuration export/import, but cross-firmware compatibility is not guaranteed.
Does D-Central offer firmware installation as a service?
Yes. If you would rather not flash firmware yourself, D-Central can install and configure Braiins OS+ on your miner as part of our ASIC repair and maintenance services. We will also tune the autotuning parameters for your specific use case — whether that is maximum efficiency, maximum hashrate, or a specific power target for space heater operation. Ship your miner to our Laval, Quebec facility and we will ship it back optimized and ready to mine.
Keeping Your Firmware Updated
Firmware is not a set-and-forget decision. Each firmware developer ships updates that improve autotuning algorithms, add model support, fix bugs, and patch security vulnerabilities. Running outdated firmware leaves performance and security on the table.
- Braiins OS+ releases monthly updates and supports automatic over-the-air (OTA) updates through the web interface or Farm Monitor.
- Vnish publishes firmware updates on their website with changelogs. Manual flash required for most updates.
- LuxOS supports remote updates through LuxOS Manager for fleet deployments, and manual web-based updates for individual miners.
Subscribe to firmware update notifications from each developer, and check for updates at least quarterly. Our Antminer Firmware Update Guide covers the update process for every firmware.
D-Central Technologies has been at the forefront of Bitcoin mining since 2016. As Canada’s leading Bitcoin Mining Hackers, we do not just sell miners — we optimize every layer of the mining stack. From pre-flashed control boards to custom space heater builds to professional ASIC repair, our mission is to make institutional-grade mining technology accessible to every home miner. Because every hash counts. Browse our shop or contact our team to get started.