Bitaxe Gamma Complete Setup Guide — BM1370 Solo Miner Configuration

What Is the Bitaxe Gamma?

The Bitaxe Gamma is the latest generation of open-source solo Bitcoin miners, built around the BM1370 ASIC chip — the same silicon powering Bitmain’s flagship Antminer S21 XP. This makes the Gamma the most efficient Bitaxe variant ever produced, delivering significantly higher hashrate per watt than its predecessors.

At stock settings, the Bitaxe Gamma hashes at approximately 1.0–1.2 TH/s while drawing only 15–25W from a standard 5V barrel jack power supply. That’s roughly double the hashrate of the Bitaxe Supra (BM1368) at similar power consumption — a generational leap in efficiency. And like all Bitaxe devices, it’s completely open-source: open hardware, open firmware, fully auditable from schematic to software.

D-Central Technologies has been embedded in the Bitaxe ecosystem since its earliest days. We created the original Bitaxe Mesh Stand — the first commercially manufactured stand for Bitaxe devices — and have developed custom heatsinks, cases, and accessories specifically engineered for each variant. We stock every Bitaxe model because we believe in what this hardware represents: decentralized mining accessible to anyone, anywhere.

This guide walks you through every step of setting up your Bitaxe Gamma, from unboxing to submitting your first share. Whether this is your first Bitaxe or your tenth, we’ll cover the Gamma-specific details you need to know.

Technical Specifications

Gamma vs. Supra: What’s Different?

If you’re coming from a Bitaxe Supra or considering which variant to buy, here’s how the Gamma compares:

The Gamma roughly doubles your solo mining odds compared to the Supra at a similar power draw. The BM1370 chip is simply a more advanced piece of silicon — higher hashrate at lower energy per terahash. If you’re buying new, the Gamma is the recommended choice.

What’s in the Box

Your Bitaxe Gamma from D-Central will include:

• Bitaxe Gamma 601 PCB — Main board with BM1370 ASIC chip, ESP32-S3 controller, and onboard fan
• Heatsink — Pre-attached or included separately (varies by configuration)
• Thermal pad — For heatsink mounting if not pre-attached
• Stand or mounting hardware — If included with your specific order

Before You Begin

Step 1: Hardware Assembly

Heatsink Installation

If your Bitaxe Gamma arrived with the heatsink already attached, skip to Positioning. If the heatsink is separate, follow these steps:

1. Clean the ASIC chip surface — Use isopropyl alcohol (90%+) and a lint-free cloth to remove any residue from the top of the BM1370 chip.
2. Apply the thermal pad — Peel the protective film from both sides of the thermal pad. Place it centered on the BM1370 chip. The pad should cover the entire chip surface without overhanging significantly.
3. Mount the heatsink — Press the heatsink firmly and evenly onto the thermal pad. Ensure full contact — uneven pressure creates hot spots. If your heatsink uses clips or screws, secure them now.
4. Verify the fan — Check that the small onboard fan spins freely and its cable is connected to the fan header on the PCB.

Positioning

Position your Bitaxe Gamma for optimal airflow:

• Vertical orientation is best — Use a stand (like D-Central’s Mesh Stand) to keep the device upright. This allows natural convection to assist the fan.
• Leave airspace around the device — Don’t place it in a closed cabinet or pressed against a wall. The fan needs room to breathe.
• Avoid heat sources — Don’t place it next to your router, another miner, or near a heating vent.
• Consider ambient temperature — The cooler the room, the more overclocking headroom you’ll have. A room at 20°C gives significantly better results than 28°C.

Step 2: Power On & First Boot

1. Connect barrel jack power — Plug the barrel jack connector into the Gamma’s 5V DC power port. Connect the other end to your power adapter.
2. Plug in the adapter — The Gamma will power on automatically (there’s no power button).
3. Wait 15–30 seconds — The ESP32-S3 controller boots, initializes the BM1370 chip, and starts broadcasting its WiFi access point.
4. Look for the WiFi network — On your phone or laptop, scan for available WiFi networks. You should see a network named AxeOS_XXXX (where XXXX is a unique identifier). This is your Bitaxe’s setup hotspot.

Step 3: WiFi Configuration

1. Connect to the AxeOS hotspot — Join the AxeOS_XXXX WiFi network from your phone or laptop. No password is required for the initial setup hotspot.
2. Open the setup portal — Your device should automatically redirect to the AxeOS captive portal. If it doesn’t, open a browser and navigate to http://192.168.4.1
3. Enter your home WiFi credentials:
   • SSID: Your 2.4 GHz WiFi network name (case-sensitive)
   • Password: Your WiFi password (exact characters)
4. Save and reboot — The Gamma will disconnect from its hotspot, connect to your home WiFi, and get an IP address from your router.

Finding Your Gamma’s IP Address

After the Gamma connects to your WiFi, you need its new IP address to access the AxeOS dashboard:

1. Router admin panel — Log into your router (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) and check the connected devices / DHCP client list. Look for a device named “AxeOS” or “ESP32”.
2. Network scanner — Use a free app like Fing (mobile) or Angry IP Scanner (desktop) to scan your local network.
3. mDNS — Some AxeOS versions support mDNS. Try navigating to http://axeos.local in your browser.

Once you have the IP address, open your browser and navigate to http://192.168.x.x (replace with your Gamma’s actual IP). You should see the AxeOS dashboard.

Step 4: Configure Mining Pool

The Bitaxe Gamma connects to a mining pool using the Stratum protocol. For solo mining — the most popular use case — you’ll connect to a solo pool that submits your work as individual block attempts.

Recommended: Public Pool (Solo Mining)

Public Pool is the community-standard solo mining pool for Bitaxe devices. Zero fees, open-source, and purpose-built for small miners.

In the AxeOS dashboard, navigate to Mining / Stratum settings and enter:

Alternative Solo Pools

Set Your Bitcoin Address

Your Worker Name is your Bitcoin wallet address. This is where the full block reward (3.125 BTC) gets sent if your Gamma finds a block.

• Use a bc1q (native SegWit) address for the lowest fees — recommended
• Avoid bc1p (Taproot) addresses — some solo pools have compatibility issues with Taproot
• Never use an exchange deposit address — use a wallet where you control the private keys
• You can append a device name: bc1q…address.gamma1 to identify this specific device on the pool dashboard

Click Save. The Gamma will reboot and begin mining within 30–60 seconds.

Step 5: Verify Mining Operation

After saving your pool configuration and the Gamma reboots, verify everything is working:

AxeOS Dashboard Check

Navigate to your Gamma’s IP address in your browser. The AxeOS dashboard should show:

Verify on Public Pool Dashboard

Visit your Public Pool dashboard to confirm the pool is receiving your shares:

https://web.public-pool.io/#/app/YOUR_BITCOIN_ADDRESS

You should see your worker listed with its hashrate and share count. The dashboard also shows your Best Difficulty — the highest-difficulty share your Gamma has found. This is your personal record and your closest approach to finding a full block.

Step 6: Overclocking & Tuning

The Bitaxe Gamma’s BM1370 chip has excellent overclocking headroom. With the right thermal solution, many units can push well beyond stock hashrate. But as always: stability first, speed second.

Key Parameters

Safe Overclocking Procedure

1. Baseline first: Run at stock settings for 30+ minutes. Record hashrate, temperature, and power. This is your reference point.
2. Increase frequency by 25 MHz: In AxeOS tuning settings, bump frequency (e.g., 525 → 550 MHz). Save and restart.
3. Monitor for 15–30 minutes: Check hashrate stability, temperature, and rejected shares. If stable and temp is under 65°C, you’re good.
4. Repeat in 25 MHz steps until you see instability: crashes, high rejection rate, or temps above 70°C.
5. If unstable, bump voltage by 10–20 mV: This gives the chip more headroom at the higher frequency. But more voltage = more heat, so watch temps.
6. Find the sweet spot: The ideal OC is the highest frequency where your Gamma runs 24/7 without crashes or excessive heat.
7. Back off one step: Drop frequency 25 MHz below the instability threshold. This gives you margin for warmer days.

Temperature Reference

Step 7: Firmware Updates

AxeOS receives regular updates with performance improvements, bug fixes, and new features. Keep your Gamma’s firmware current.

Check Current Version

Your current firmware version is displayed on the AxeOS dashboard, typically in the System or About section. Compare it with the latest release on the ESP-Miner GitHub releases page.

Update Procedure

1. Download the latest firmware — Get the .bin file from the ESP-Miner GitHub releases page. Make sure you download the correct build for your hardware.
2. Note your current settings — Write down your frequency, voltage, pool URL, and Bitcoin address. Some updates may reset configuration to defaults.
3. Navigate to OTA Update — In the AxeOS dashboard, go to System → OTA Update (or similar, depending on version).
4. Upload the .bin file — Select the firmware file and click Update. The upload and flash process takes 1–3 minutes.
5. Wait for reboot — The Gamma will automatically reboot after the update. Do NOT unplug power during the update.
6. Verify settings — After reboot, check that your pool settings and overclock parameters are intact. Reconfigure if needed.

Factory Reset

If your Gamma is misbehaving after a firmware update or configuration change, a factory reset restores all settings to defaults:

• Navigate to System → Reset to Defaults in the AxeOS dashboard
• The Gamma will reboot and broadcast its setup hotspot again, as if brand new
• You’ll need to reconfigure WiFi, pool settings, and any overclocking parameters

Troubleshooting

Gamma Won’t Connect to WiFi

Symptoms: The AxeOS hotspot keeps reappearing, meaning the Gamma can’t connect to your home WiFi.

1. Confirm 2.4 GHz — This is the #1 cause. The ESP32-S3 only supports 2.4 GHz. Create a dedicated 2.4 GHz SSID if your router uses band steering.
2. Check credentials — SSID and password are case-sensitive. Re-enter them carefully.
3. Special characters — Some special characters in SSIDs or passwords (& # $ ‘ “) can cause issues. Try a simpler password temporarily.
4. Router client limit — Check if your router has hit its maximum connected devices limit.
5. Signal strength — Set up the Gamma close to the router first, then move it to its permanent location.
6. Factory reset — If nothing works, reset to defaults and start the WiFi setup fresh.

Low Hashrate

Symptoms: Hashrate below 800 GH/s at stock settings.

1. Check power supply — A weak PSU causes voltage sag. Use a quality 5V/6A (30W) barrel jack adapter.
2. Check barrel jack connection — Ensure the connector is fully seated. A loose barrel jack causes intermittent power drops under load.
3. Check temperature — Above 70°C triggers thermal throttling. Improve cooling.
4. Check heatsink contact — Poor thermal pad alignment creates hot spots and throttling.
5. Update firmware — Newer AxeOS versions may have better BM1370 optimization.
6. Wait longer — Hashrate averaging takes 10+ minutes to stabilize. Don’t judge from momentary readings.

High Temperature

Symptoms: ASIC temp consistently above 65°C or spiking past 70°C.

1. Verify heatsink mounting — Remove and remount with fresh thermal pad. Ensure full, even contact.
2. Improve airflow — Use a stand for vertical positioning. Point a desk fan at the device.
3. Reduce overclock — Drop frequency 25–50 MHz. This is the fastest fix.
4. Lower ambient temperature — Move to a cooler room or add AC.
5. Upgrade heatsink — D-Central’s custom heatsinks offer significantly better thermal performance than stock.
6. Check the fan — Make sure the onboard fan is spinning. If not, check the connector or contact support for replacement.

Frequent Crashes or Reboots

Symptoms: The Gamma restarts itself every few minutes or hours.

1. Power supply issue — This is the most common cause. Under load, a weak PSU sags below the minimum voltage and the ESP32 resets. Upgrade your PSU.
2. Overclocking too aggressive — Return to stock frequency/voltage and test stability. If crashes stop, your OC was beyond the chip’s capability.
3. Overheating — Check temps right before crash (check AxeOS logs if available). Thermal protection causes resets above ~80°C.
4. WiFi instability — A weak WiFi signal can cause network timeouts that trigger watchdog resets. Move closer to the router or use a WiFi extender.
5. Firmware bug — Try updating to the latest AxeOS version, or rolling back to a previous known-stable version.

Ongoing Maintenance

The Bitaxe Gamma is a set-and-forget device, but a few periodic checks keep it running at peak performance:

• Monthly: Check the AxeOS dashboard. Verify hashrate, temperature, and share acceptance are normal. Clear any dust from the heatsink and fan with compressed air.
• Quarterly: Check for AxeOS firmware updates. Review your overclock settings — seasonal temperature changes may require adjustment.
• Annually: Inspect the thermal pad. After 12+ months of continuous operation, thermal pads can dry out and lose effectiveness. Replace if temperatures have crept up without other changes.
• After power outages: The Gamma boots and mines automatically after power is restored, but verify it reconnected to WiFi and the pool.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are my odds of finding a block with a Bitaxe Gamma?

At ~1.2 TH/s, the Gamma represents a tiny fraction of Bitcoin’s total network hashrate. Your daily odds are extremely small — comparable to a lottery ticket. But unlike a lottery, your Gamma plays 86,400 times per second, every second, every day. Bitaxe miners have found full blocks before. The odds are low but never zero, and that’s the thrill of solo mining. At roughly double the hashrate of the Supra, the Gamma gives you twice the tickets.

How much electricity does the Bitaxe Gamma use?

At stock settings: ~15–25W, roughly equivalent to a standard LED light bulb. That’s about 0.5–0.6 kWh per day, or 15–18 kWh per month. At $0.12/kWh, that’s under $2/month. Even aggressively overclocked (35–45W), you’re looking at $3–4/month — negligible.

Can I use the same setup guide for other Bitaxe variants?

Yes, the setup process is nearly identical across all Bitaxe variants (Supra, Ultra, Gamma, Hex). The differences are in the ASIC chip, stock hashrate, and overclocking parameters. WiFi setup, pool configuration, and AxeOS navigation are the same. Check our Bitaxe Supra Setup Guide for Supra-specific details.

Should I solo mine or pool mine with my Gamma?

Solo mining is the default recommendation. At 1.2 TH/s, pool mining payouts would be a few satoshis per day — not meaningful income. Solo mining gives you a real (if small) chance at a full 3.125 BTC block reward, contributes to Bitcoin’s decentralization, and is more philosophically aligned with what the Bitaxe represents. Pool mine only if you want to verify the device is working by seeing regular small payouts.

How do I know if my Gamma found a block?

If your Gamma finds a valid block, Public Pool will detect it and send the 3.125 BTC block reward directly to your configured Bitcoin address. You’ll see it on the Public Pool dashboard as a “block found” event, and the BTC will appear in your wallet after 100 confirmations (~16 hours). Some AxeOS versions also display block-found notifications on the dashboard. Pro tip: join the Bitaxe community on Discord/Twitter — block wins are celebrated publicly and you’ll hear about it fast.

Is the Bitaxe Gamma loud?

No. The onboard fan is small and quiet — typically under 35 dB, which is quieter than a whisper. At aggressive overclocks with the fan running faster, it might reach 40 dB — still barely noticeable. The Gamma is designed for desks, living rooms, and bedrooms.

Can I run multiple Bitaxe Gamma units?

Absolutely. Each Gamma is independent — its own WiFi connection, its own pool config. Run as many as you want. Use the same Bitcoin address across all devices and your combined hashrate appears as one total on the Public Pool dashboard. More Gammas = more hashrate = better odds. D-Central’s Mesh Stand is designed to neatly stack multiple Bitaxe units.

What if my PSU dies?

The Gamma will simply stop — no damage occurs from sudden power loss. Replace the PSU, plug back in, and the Gamma boots automatically and resumes mining with all saved settings intact. Configuration is stored in the ESP32’s flash memory, which survives power cycles.

Next Steps

Your Bitaxe Gamma is hashing, submitting shares, and contributing to Bitcoin’s decentralization. Here’s where to go next:

• Fine-tune your overclock — Revisit the overclocking section after a few days of stable operation
• Read the Bitaxe Hub — D-Central’s Bitaxe Hub is your definitive Bitaxe resource
• Explore other Bitaxe variants — Consider adding a Bitaxe Hex (6 chips, ~3.6 TH/s) for significantly more hashrate
• Check out Space Heaters — Ready for serious mining? D-Central’s Bitcoin Space Heaters combine full ASIC hashrate with home heating
• Join the community — Follow @DCentralTech on X for news, block wins, and community highlights

Every hash your Gamma computes is a vote for decentralization. Every share submitted is proof that you don’t need a warehouse to participate in Bitcoin mining. One chip, one chance, one block away from 3.125 BTC.

Happy hashing.

— The D-Central Technologies Team
Bitcoin Mining Hackers since 2016