Quick answer
A Bitaxe runs AxeOS, the open-source firmware from the ESP-Miner project. It provides the web dashboard, pool configuration, frequency and voltage controls, and statistics. Because it is open source, you can read the code, build it, and flash it over USB or the built-in web updater.
AxeOS is the firmware that ships on a Bitaxe. It is part of the open-source ESP-Miner project and runs on the board's ESP32 controller, exposing a local web dashboard where you set your pool, watch hashrate and temperature, and adjust the chip's target frequency and core voltage.
Key things to know:
- It is open source. You can read every line, build it yourself, and verify there are no hidden behaviours.
- Updating is built in. AxeOS has a web-based updater; you can also flash over USB if a unit becomes unresponsive.
- Tuning is per-chip frequency + core voltage. The safe band is narrow on a single small chip, and thermals dominate — raising frequency raises heat and the VRM does the work.
The firmware is maintained by the OSMU community. Other open firmwares for the Nerd-family boards exist and are also community-maintained.
What firmware does a Bitaxe run?
A Bitaxe runs AxeOS, the open-source firmware from the ESP-Miner project. It provides the web dashboard, pool configuration, frequency and voltage controls, and statistics. Because it is open source, you can read the code, build it, and flash it over USB or the built-in web updater.
Sources: ESP-Miner / AxeOS repository; OSMU community documentation. · Last reviewed June 2026.
Related products, repair, and setup paths
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- home immersion cooling guide
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- compare miner specs in the database
- ASIC repair support
Last reviewed June 13, 2026.