Description
Why the NerdMiner — The $50 Bitcoin Mining Educational Device and Desk Display
The NerdMiner is the most accessible way to participate in real Bitcoin mining — a USB-powered solo mining device and Bitcoin desk display for under $50 CAD. It is also the gateway to the entire OSMU open-source mining ecosystem. D-Central carries the complete upgrade path from the NerdMiner all the way to the NerdOctaxe Gamma at 12 TH/s. Start where you are, grow when you are ready.
- The $50 Entry Point to Bitcoin Mining — The NerdMiner is the most accessible way to participate in real Bitcoin mining. Plug it into any USB port, connect to WiFi, and you are submitting real SHA-256 hashes to the Bitcoin network. No technical knowledge required, no mining rig, no noise, no heat. Just a tiny device and a dream.
- A Bitcoin Dashboard for Your Desk — Beyond mining, the NerdMiner is a beautiful real-time Bitcoin stats display. Watch block heights tick upward, track network difficulty, monitor your hashrate, and keep an eye on the BTC price — all on a crisp color screen that fits in the palm of your hand.
- Every Hash Counts — At 78 kH/s, the NerdMiner is not going to outpace industrial farms. But every hash you submit is a real, independent lottery ticket. The odds are astronomical — but they are never zero. And every NerdMiner running is one more node of resistance against mining centralization.
- Gateway to the OSMU Ecosystem — The NerdMiner is where thousands of home miners started. When you are ready for more hashpower, the upgrade path is built right in: add a NerdNOS for 80-130 GH/s, step up to a NerdAxe for 500 GH/s, or jump to a Bitaxe for 1.2 TH/s. D-Central carries every step of the journey.
- 100% Open Source — Built on the NerdMiner V2 firmware by the OSMU community. Hardware designs, firmware source code, and schematics are all publicly available. You own it, you can modify it, you can learn from it.
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Processor | ESP32-S3 (TTGO T-Display S3) |
| Mining Type | CPU mining (SHA-256) |
| Hashrate | ~78 kH/s |
| Power Consumption | ~1W |
| Power Input | USB (cable included) |
| Monthly Electricity Cost | Under $0.10/month at any rate |
| Display | Color TFT screen (built-in) |
| Connectivity | WiFi (2.4 GHz only) |
| Noise Level | Silent (no moving parts) |
| Dimensions | 8 x 3 x 3 cm |
| Weight | ~100g |
| Firmware | NerdMiner V2 (pre-installed) |
| Compatible Coins | Bitcoin (SHA-256) |
What’s in the Box
- Fully assembled TTGO T-Display S3 board with NerdMiner firmware pre-installed
- USB cable
- 3D-printed protective case
- Quick-start setup guide
That is everything you need. Plug it into any USB port — a phone charger, laptop, power bank, or wall adapter — and you are ready to mine.
Display Modes
The NerdMiner’s color screen is more than a mining indicator — it is a miniature Bitcoin dashboard. The display cycles through:
- Mining Status — Your current hashrate, valid shares submitted, and best difficulty share found
- Bitcoin Clock — Current block height, time since last block, and real-time BTC price
- Network Stats — Network hashrate, current difficulty, and difficulty adjustment countdown
- Device Info — WiFi signal strength, uptime, and firmware version
Many NerdMiner owners say they bought it for the mining and kept it for the display. It is the best Bitcoin desk clock money can buy.
Quick Setup
- Plug in — Connect the NerdMiner to any USB port using the included cable. The screen lights up immediately.
- Connect to WiFi — On your phone or computer, join the NerdMiner’s WiFi hotspot (SSID: “NerdMinerAP”). Enter your home WiFi credentials and your Bitcoin wallet address in the configuration portal.
- Start mining — The NerdMiner connects to the solo mining pool and begins hashing. You will see your hashrate, shares, and Bitcoin stats on the display within seconds.
Setup takes under a minute. No tools, no assembly, no command line. If you can connect to WiFi, you can mine Bitcoin.
Important: The NerdMiner only supports 2.4 GHz WiFi networks. If your router broadcasts 5 GHz only or has a combined SSID, you may need to enable a separate 2.4 GHz network in your router settings.
The OSMU Lineup — Find Your Miner
The NerdMiner is the starting point of an entire open-source mining ecosystem. D-Central is the only retailer that carries every step of the upgrade path — from your first 78 kH/s all the way to 12 TH/s.
| Device | Hashrate | Power | Price (CAD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| NerdMiner (You are here) | ~78 kH/s | ~1W | $49.99 |
| NerdNOS | 80–130 GH/s | 7–8W | $139.99 |
| NerdAxe | ~500 GH/s | ~12W | $189.99 |
| Bitaxe | 625 GH/s – 1.2 TH/s | 12–21W | $189.99 |
| Modern Minibit Gamma | ~2 TH/s | ~21W+ | $229.99 |
| NerdQAxe | 1.7–2.4 TH/s | ~55W | Clearance |
| NerdQAxe+ / Bitaxe GT | 2.15–2.5 TH/s | 35–55W | From $299.99 |
| Bitaxe Hex | 3+ TH/s | ~90W | $499.99 |
| NerdQAxe++ | 6 TH/s | ~100W | Coming Soon |
| NerdOctaxe Gamma | 9.6–12 TH/s | 160–200W | Coming Soon |
All prices in CAD. Visit the Bitaxe Hub for deep-dive guides, comparisons, and setup tutorials across the full OSMU lineup.
Your Next Step — Accessories and Upgrades
Ready for more hashpower? The NerdNOS ($139.99) gives you a real ASIC chip at 80–130 GH/s while keeping USB-powered simplicity. Or jump straight to the NerdAxe ($189.99) — a nearly 9-million-x upgrade from the NerdMiner.
Dress up your NerdMiner with a Modern NerdMiner Case for a premium desk display. And if any of your OSMU devices ever need service, D-Central’s ASIC repair team has fixed 2,500+ miners — we support what we sell.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the NerdMiner actually find a Bitcoin block?
Technically, yes. Every hash the NerdMiner submits is a real, independent attempt at solving a Bitcoin block. At 78 kH/s against the network’s ~700+ EH/s, the odds per day are astronomically small — roughly 1 in hundreds of trillions. You are statistically more likely to win a national lottery. But that is kind of the point: it is the cheapest possible lottery ticket for a 3.125 BTC prize, and it costs essentially nothing to run. Every hash counts.
How much electricity does it use?
About 1 watt — less than a single LED light bulb. At any residential electricity rate, the NerdMiner costs under $0.10 per month to run 24/7. You can power it from a phone charger, a laptop USB port, or even a small solar panel.
What does the screen display?
The NerdMiner’s color TFT screen cycles through mining status (hashrate, shares submitted, best difficulty), Bitcoin network stats (block height, difficulty, price), and device info (WiFi strength, uptime). It is a fully functional Bitcoin dashboard that happens to also mine.
Is it really mining or just a simulation?
It is real mining. The NerdMiner runs actual SHA-256 hashing on its ESP32-S3 processor and submits valid shares to a real solo mining pool. When connected, it is a fully participating node in the Bitcoin mining network — just a very small one.
Why won’t it connect to my WiFi?
The most common issue: the NerdMiner only supports 2.4 GHz WiFi networks. If your router uses 5 GHz only, or broadcasts a combined 2.4/5 GHz SSID, the NerdMiner may not see it. Solution: create a dedicated 2.4 GHz SSID in your router settings. Also check that your router’s firewall is not blocking outbound mining traffic (port 3333).
What Bitcoin wallet do I need?
Any on-chain Bitcoin wallet that gives you a receive address. Native SegWit addresses (starting with “bc1q”) work best. We recommend Sparrow Wallet, BlueWallet, Electrum, or any hardware wallet (Coldcard, Trezor). Do not use an exchange deposit address — use a wallet where you control the private keys.
Is the NerdMiner a good gift?
One of the best gifts for any Bitcoiner. Under $50, completely silent, beautiful desk display, zero maintenance, and it sparks conversations about Bitcoin mining every time someone sees it. It is also a genuine gateway device — many NerdMiner recipients end up upgrading to a Bitaxe within months.
Can I upgrade from the NerdMiner to something more powerful?
Absolutely. D-Central carries the complete OSMU open-source miner lineup. Your natural next steps: the NerdNOS ($139.99, 80-130 GH/s, still USB-powered) for a 1,000x hashrate boost, the NerdAxe ($189.99, 500 GH/s) for nearly 9 million times more power, or the Bitaxe Gamma ($189.99, 1.2 TH/s) for the most popular open-source solo miner on the market.
NerdMiner vs NerdNOS vs NerdAxe — what’s the difference?
The NerdMiner is CPU-based (78 kH/s, $49.99) — an educational device and desk display. The NerdNOS adds a real ASIC chip for 80-130 GH/s at 7-8W, still USB-powered ($139.99). The NerdAxe uses a more powerful ASIC chip for 500 GH/s ($189.99). Think of it as learning → entry-level ASIC → serious ASIC. D-Central sells all three.
Which mining pool does the NerdMiner connect to?
The NerdMiner typically connects to Public Pool (web.public-pool.io) by default — a free, open-source solo mining pool. You can also configure it for Solo CKPool (solo.ckpool.org) or any stratum-compatible pool. For the NerdMiner, solo mining is the recommended mode since pool mining earnings at 78 kH/s would be effectively zero.
Can I buy a NerdMiner in Canada?
Yes. D-Central Technologies is a Canadian company based in Laval, Quebec — we ship NerdMiners across Canada with fast domestic shipping, prices in CAD, and bilingual support in English and French. No cross-border customs delays, no surprise duties. Visit our shop to order.
What if my NerdMiner needs repair or support?
D-Central’s ASIC repair team has serviced 2,500+ mining machines since 2016. We support everything we sell — from NerdMiners to industrial Antminers. If you have any issues with your NerdMiner, our technicians in Laval, Quebec can help. That is a level of after-sale support no other open-source miner retailer offers.
Supporting Open-Source Mining
The NerdMiner is part of the OSMU (Open Source Miners United) ecosystem — a global community of developers, builders, and miners creating open-source Bitcoin mining hardware that anyone can build, modify, and improve.
D-Central has been a pioneer in the OSMU ecosystem since the beginning — manufacturing the original Bitaxe Mesh Stand, developing custom heatsinks, and stocking the complete open-source miner lineup. We are not a reseller who jumped on a trend. We helped build this ecosystem.
The NerdMiner firmware and hardware designs are fully open source. Visit the Bitaxe Hub for guides, comparisons, and everything you need to know about the open-source mining ecosystem.
Every hash counts. Whether you are running a NerdMiner or a Bitaxe Hex, every hash you submit is a vote for decentralized mining — a small act of resistance against hash rate concentration. That is what this ecosystem is about.
Need help choosing your next miner? Contact us or visit our Bitaxe Hub for the complete OSMU comparison guide.
Can the NerdMiner actually find a Bitcoin block?
Technically, yes. Every hash the NerdMiner submits is a real, independent attempt at solving a Bitcoin block. At 78 kH/s against the network’s ~700+ EH/s, the odds per day are astronomically small — roughly 1 in hundreds of trillions. You are statistically more likely to win a national lottery. But that is kind of the point: it is the cheapest possible lottery ticket for a 3.125 BTC prize, and it costs essentially nothing to run. Every hash counts.
How much electricity does it use?
About 1 watt — less than a single LED light bulb. At any residential electricity rate, the NerdMiner costs under $0.10 per month to run 24/7. You can power it from a phone charger, a laptop USB port, or even a small solar panel.
What does the screen display?
The NerdMiner’s color TFT screen cycles through mining status (hashrate, shares submitted, best difficulty), Bitcoin network stats (block height, difficulty, price), and device info (WiFi strength, uptime). It is a fully functional Bitcoin dashboard that happens to also mine.
Is it really mining or just a simulation?
It is real mining. The NerdMiner runs actual SHA-256 hashing on its ESP32-S3 processor and submits valid shares to a real solo mining pool. When connected, it is a fully participating node in the Bitcoin mining network — just a very small one.
Why won’t it connect to my WiFi?
The most common issue: the NerdMiner only supports 2.4 GHz WiFi networks. If your router uses 5 GHz only, or broadcasts a combined 2.4/5 GHz SSID, the NerdMiner may not see it. Solution: create a dedicated 2.4 GHz SSID in your router settings. Also check that your router’s firewall is not blocking outbound mining traffic (port 3333).
What Bitcoin wallet do I need?
Any on-chain Bitcoin wallet that gives you a receive address. Native SegWit addresses (starting with “bc1q”) work best. We recommend Sparrow Wallet, BlueWallet, Electrum, or any hardware wallet (Coldcard, Trezor). Do not use an exchange deposit address — use a wallet where you control the private keys.
Is the NerdMiner a good gift?
One of the best gifts for any Bitcoiner. Under $50, completely silent, beautiful desk display, zero maintenance, and it sparks conversations about Bitcoin mining every time someone sees it. It is also a genuine gateway device — many NerdMiner recipients end up upgrading to a Bitaxe within months.
Can I upgrade from the NerdMiner to something more powerful?
Absolutely. D-Central carries the complete OSMU open-source miner lineup. Your natural next steps: the NerdNOS ($139.99, 80-130 GH/s, still USB-powered) for a 1,000x hashrate boost, the NerdAxe ($189.99, 500 GH/s) for nearly 9 million times more power, or the Bitaxe Gamma ($189.99, 1.2 TH/s) for the most popular open-source solo miner on the market.
NerdMiner vs NerdNOS vs NerdAxe — what’s the difference?
The NerdMiner is CPU-based (78 kH/s, $49.99) — an educational device and desk display. The NerdNOS adds a real ASIC chip for 80-130 GH/s at 7-8W, still USB-powered ($139.99). The NerdAxe uses a more powerful ASIC chip for 500 GH/s ($189.99). Think of it as learning → entry-level ASIC → serious ASIC. D-Central sells all three.
Which mining pool does the NerdMiner connect to?
The NerdMiner typically connects to Public Pool (web.public-pool.io) by default — a free, open-source solo mining pool. You can also configure it for Solo CKPool (solo.ckpool.org) or any stratum-compatible pool. For the NerdMiner, solo mining is the recommended mode since pool mining earnings at 78 kH/s would be effectively zero.
Can I buy a NerdMiner in Canada?
Yes. D-Central Technologies is a Canadian company based in Laval, Quebec — we ship NerdMiners across Canada with fast domestic shipping, prices in CAD, and bilingual support in English and French. No cross-border customs delays, no surprise duties. Visit our shop to order.
What if my NerdMiner needs repair or support?
D-Central’s ASIC repair team has serviced 2,500+ mining machines since 2016. We support everything we sell — from NerdMiners to industrial Antminers. If you have any issues with your NerdMiner, our technicians in Laval, Quebec can help. That is a level of after-sale support no other open-source miner retailer offers.
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