The Bitaxe Community & Open-Source Mining Ecosystem in 2026: A Complete Roundup

The Open-Source Mining Revolution: Why Bitaxe Changed Everything

In the early days of Bitcoin, mining was something anyone with a laptop could do. Then came the ASIC arms race, and within a few years, mining was dominated by a handful of hardware manufacturers and mega-scale operations. The average Bitcoiner was locked out — forced to trust pool operators, rely on proprietary firmware, and accept that mining had become an institutional game.

Then skot9000 — an electrical engineer and committed Bitcoiner — decided to change that. Starting in early 2023, he began designing what would become the Bitaxe: the world’s first fully open-source Bitcoin ASIC miner. Not a toy. Not a proof of concept. A real SHA-256 miner running the same class of ASIC chips found in industrial Antminers, shrunk down to the size of a human hand.

The philosophy was radical in its simplicity: if Bitcoin is open-source money, the machines that secure it should be open-source too.

Every schematic, every PCB layout, every line of firmware — published under the CERN Open Hardware License (CERN-OHL-S) for the hardware and GNU GPL 3.0 for the software. Anyone can review it. Anyone can build it. Anyone can improve it.

This was not just a product launch. It was the birth of a movement: Open Source Miners United (OSMU).

What is OSMU?

Open Source Miners United is the informal collective of engineers, developers, manufacturers, and enthusiasts who collaborate on open-source mining hardware and firmware. It is not a corporation. There is no CEO. It is a decentralized community of contributors — roughly a dozen regular hardware and firmware developers, plus hundreds of community members testing, modifying, and deploying these miners around the world.

OSMU operates primarily through its Discord server, where real-time collaboration happens daily: firmware debugging, PCB design reviews, overclocking experiments, power delivery optimization, and the occasional celebration when someone hits a solo block.

The ethos is pure cypherpunk: open hardware, open firmware, no vendor lock-in, no proprietary black boxes. If you buy an OSMU miner, you own every layer of the stack. You can audit the firmware. You can modify the hardware. You can flash custom software. You are sovereign over your mining operation, no matter how small.

For D-Central Technologies, this philosophy aligns perfectly with our founding mission: the decentralization of every layer of Bitcoin mining. We have been part of the Bitaxe ecosystem since the beginning — manufacturing accessories, developing thermal solutions, and stocking every variant as the family tree has grown. More on that later. First, let us trace the evolution of the hardware itself.

The Bitaxe Family Tree: From Supra to GT and Beyond

The Bitaxe project has evolved through multiple major hardware revisions, each one leveraging a newer, more efficient ASIC chip from Bitmain’s lineup. Here is the complete family tree as of early 2026.

Bitaxe Max (100 Series) — Where It All Began

• ASIC Chip: BM1397 (from the Antminer S17/T17)
• Hashrate: ~400 GH/s
• Power: ~15W
• Status: Legacy / discontinued

The original Bitaxe Max proved the concept: a single ASIC chip, an ESP32-S3 microcontroller, a power management system, and WiFi connectivity — all on a compact PCB. It was the first open-source Bitcoin ASIC miner in nearly a decade, and it worked.

Bitaxe Ultra (200 Series) — The Efficiency Leap

• ASIC Chip: BM1366 (from the Antminer S19XP)
• Hashrate: ~500 GH/s
• Power: ~12-15W
• Efficiency: ~21 J/TH
• Status: Still available, widely deployed

The Ultra was the third major revision and the model that brought Bitaxe into the mainstream. The BM1366 chip delivered a significant efficiency improvement, and the Ultra became the most widely manufactured and sold Bitaxe variant. It was a Bitaxe Ultra that made history on July 24, 2024, when it mined block #853,742 — but we will get to that story shortly.

Bitaxe Supra (400 Series) — S21 Power

• ASIC Chip: BM1368 (from the Antminer S21)
• Hashrate: ~700 GH/s
• Power: ~12-15W
• Efficiency: ~17.5 J/TH
• Status: Available

The fourth major revision brought the BM1368 — the same chip powering Bitmain’s flagship S21. The Supra represented a different footprint and pinout from previous models, requiring a complete PCB redesign. The result was a meaningful hashrate boost with even better efficiency.

Bitaxe Gamma (600 Series) — The Current Sweet Spot

• ASIC Chip: BM1370 (from the Antminer S21 Pro)
• Hashrate: 1.1-1.2 TH/s (stock), up to 1.6-1.8 TH/s overclocked
• Power: ~18W
• Efficiency: ~15 J/TH
• Status: Current flagship single-chip model

The Gamma is where the Bitaxe lineup hits its stride. Powered by the BM1370 from the Antminer S21 Pro, it cracks the terahash barrier on a single chip — something that seemed impossible for a handheld open-source miner just two years ago. With overclocking, experienced users push these well past 1.5 TH/s. The Gamma 602 revision, with its improved Dark Horse heatsink and refined PCB layout, is arguably the best value in the entire open-source mining ecosystem right now.

For a deep dive into this model, see our Bitaxe Gamma 602 review.

Bitaxe Hex (700 Series) — Six-Chip Powerhouse

• ASIC Chips: 6x BM1366 (Ultra Hex) or 6x BM1368 (Supra Hex)
• Hashrate: 3+ TH/s (Ultra Hex) to 4.2+ TH/s (Supra Hex)
• Power: ~70-90W
• Status: Available

The Hex took the Bitaxe concept multi-chip. Six ASIC chips on a single board, managed by one ESP32-S3, with modified AxeOS firmware providing PWM fan speed control. The Supra Hex variant — packing six BM1368 chips — delivers over 4 TH/s at around 90W, making it the most powerful single-board Bitaxe design. This is serious hashrate for a device you can run from your desk.

Bitaxe GT (800 Series) — Gamma Turbo

• ASIC Chips: 2x BM1370
• Hashrate: 2.15 TH/s (stock), up to 2.55 TH/s overclocked
• Power: ~43W
• Efficiency: ~18 J/TH
• Status: Available

The GT — Gamma Turbo — is the dual-chip evolution of the Gamma. Two BM1370 chips, one board, over 2 TH/s of hashrate. It bridges the gap between single-chip simplicity and multi-chip power without the footprint of a full Hex. For many solo miners, the GT represents the sweet spot of hashrate-per-dollar.

For our full analysis, check the Bitaxe GT 801 review.

Bitaxe Mini (900 Series) — The Next Frontier

• ASIC Chips: 4x BM1370 (prototype)
• Features: On-board Ethernet, additional debug ports
• Status: Under active development — no public repository yet

The 900 series is the next generation currently in prototype form. Early indications suggest it will feature Ethernet directly on the PCB — a first for the Bitaxe line — along with enhanced development and debug interfaces. The OSMU community is watching this one closely. As new Bitmain ASIC chips become available, expect the Mini to adopt whatever next-generation silicon offers the best efficiency gains.

Bitaxe Gamma Duo (650) — The Compact Twin

• ASIC Chips: 2x BM1370
• Hashrate: ~1.63 TH/s
• Power: ~25.8W
• Status: Available

A newer addition to the 600-series family, the Gamma Duo packs two BM1370 chips onto a single compact board. At just 25.8 watts for over 1.6 TH/s, it offers an excellent efficiency profile for miners who want dual-chip performance in a Gamma-sized form factor.

For a complete side-by-side comparison of every model, visit our Open-Source Miners Comparison 2026.

The Broader OSMU Ecosystem: Beyond Bitaxe

The Bitaxe is the flagship, but the open-source mining ecosystem extends well beyond it. The OSMU community has spawned an entire family of devices, each targeting different use cases, budgets, and skill levels.

NerdMiner — The Gateway Device

• Hashrate: ~78 kH/s
• Power: ~1W (USB-powered)
• Price: Under $50 CAD
• Purpose: Education, desk display, lottery mining for fun

The NerdMiner is not about hashrate — it is about participation. Running on an ESP32 microcontroller without a dedicated ASIC chip, it hashes at kilohertz speeds. Your odds of finding a block are essentially zero, but that is not the point. The NerdMiner is a Bitcoin desk display, a conversation starter, and the most accessible on-ramp to understanding how mining works at the protocol level. It shows real-time block data, your hash attempts, and network stats — all powered by a USB cable.

NerdNOS — The First ASIC Step

• Hashrate: 80-130 GH/s
• Power: 7-8W (USB-powered)
• Price: ~$140 CAD
• Purpose: Entry-level ASIC solo mining

The NerdNOS bridges the gap between the NerdMiner’s educational approach and the Bitaxe’s serious hashrate. By adding a real ASIC chip to the NerdMiner platform, it jumps from kilohertz to gigahertz — still USB-powered, still whisper-quiet, but now generating meaningful shares. For someone who wants to graduate from a NerdMiner to real ASIC mining without committing to a full Bitaxe, the NerdNOS is the perfect middle ground.

NerdAxe — Single-Chip Contender

• ASIC Chip: BM1366
• Hashrate: ~500 GH/s
• Power: ~10W
• Efficiency: ~20 J/TH
• Purpose: Comparable to Bitaxe Ultra, alternative design approach

Developed by BitMaker (@BitMaker_) at Bitronics, the NerdAxe is the OSMU community’s answer to the Bitaxe Ultra — a single BM1366 chip delivering comparable hashrate with a different PCB design philosophy. It evolved from the NerdMiner platform into a full-featured ASIC miner, representing the beautiful thing about open source: multiple teams can independently develop solutions, and the community benefits from the diversity.

NerdQAxe++ — The Quad-Chip Beast

• ASIC Chips: 4x BM1370
• Hashrate: 4.8-6 TH/s
• Power: ~80-100W
• Efficiency: ~16.5 J/TH
• Status: Available (Rev 6.1 is latest)

The NerdQAxe++ is a serious piece of mining hardware. Four BM1370 chips — the same silicon powering the Bitaxe Gamma — deliver up to 6 TH/s in the latest Rev 6.1 revision. BitMaker redesigned the power delivery for Rev 6.1, ditching the failure-prone fuse from earlier revisions, adding a beefier XT30 power connector, and using thicker copper traces for better thermal performance. At 6 TH/s and around 100W, the NerdQAxe++ competes with entry-level commercial ASICs while remaining fully open-source.

Two NerdQAxe++ devices have already confirmed solo block wins in 2025 — proving that this is not just hobbyist hardware. It is block-finding hardware.

NerdOctaxe — Eight Chips, Maximum Open-Source Hashrate

• ASIC Chips: 8x BM1370
• Hashrate: 9.6-12 TH/s
• Power: ~150-200W
• Status: Available (Rev 3.1 latest)

The NerdOctaxe doubles the NerdQAxe++ formula: eight BM1370 chips, roughly double the hashrate. The Rev 3.1 board, refined by BitMaker at Bitronics, features a redesigned 6-phase VRM with the TPS53667 power controller for cleaner, more stable power delivery. At 10+ TH/s, the NerdOctaxe is the most powerful single-board open-source miner currently available — period.

PiAxe — The Raspberry Pi Approach

The PiAxe takes a different architectural approach, using a Raspberry Pi as the controller instead of an ESP32. Early revisions of the quad-BM1366 design delivered around 1.7-1.8 TH/s. The PiAxe platform influenced the development of the NerdQAxe series and demonstrates the modularity of the OSMU ecosystem — same ASIC chips, different controller architectures, all open source.

D-Central stocks the full range of these devices. Visit the Bitaxe Hub to explore every model, accessory, and guide we offer.

Block Wins and Solo Mining Success Stories

The question every solo miner hears: “But can it actually find a block?”

The answer, confirmed multiple times now, is yes.

The Block That Started It All: July 24, 2024

At 11:43 AM UTC on July 24, 2024, a solo miner running a single Bitaxe Ultra at approximately 500 GH/s mined Bitcoin block #853,742 through Solo CKPool. The block reward: 3.125 BTC plus fees, totaling approximately 3.15 BTC — worth roughly $206,000 at the time.

The odds? Approximately 1 in 1.1 billion every ten minutes. That translates to an expected wait of thousands of years. But probability is not destiny. Someone has to win, and on that day, it was a tiny open-source miner running on a desk somewhere in the world.

Solo CKPool developer Dr-ck confirmed the find, noting it was the 290th solo block on Solo CKPool and highlighting the remarkable odds.

The crypto media went wild. The Bitcoin community celebrated. And the Bitaxe went from “interesting hobby project” to “the miner that actually found a block.”

More Blocks Follow

That first block was not a fluke. The open-source mining community has continued to defy the odds:

• March 10, 2025: A solo miner running a cluster of six Bitaxe devices (combined ~3.3 TH/s) solved block #887,212 through Solo CKPool, earning approximately 3.15 BTC (~$250,000).
• 2025 NerdQAxe++ wins: Two confirmed solo blocks were found by NerdQAxe++ miners during 2025, further validating multi-chip open-source hardware.
• November 21, 2025: A cluster of Bitaxe Gamma miners solved block #924,569 through Solo CKPool.
• Ongoing into 2026: Solo blocks continue to be found by open-source mining hardware through pools like Solo CKPool and Public Pool.

As of late 2025, open-source home mining hardware has found at least five confirmed Bitcoin blocks, with combined payouts exceeding $1 million in BTC rewards.

Why Solo Mining Matters

Solo mining with a Bitaxe is often called “lottery mining” — and the math supports that characterization. But there is a deeper point that gets lost in the probability discussions.

Every hash submitted by a solo miner is a hash that does not go through a pool. It is pure, direct participation in the Bitcoin network’s consensus mechanism. No pool operator deciding which transactions to include. No pool taking a cut. No centralization of mining power.

As we wrote in our Every Hash Counts article: even if your Bitaxe never finds a block, every hash it computes contributes to the decentralization and security of the network. That is not a consolation prize. That is the mission.

Community Hubs: Where the OSMU Movement Lives

The Bitaxe and OSMU ecosystem thrives across multiple platforms. Here is where to find the community:

GitHub — The Source of Truth

• github.com/bitaxeorg — The official Bitaxe organization hosting repositories for every hardware revision (bitaxeGamma, bitaxeSupra, ultraHex, etc.), the ESP-Miner firmware, the web flasher tool, and the OSMU wiki.
• github.com/skot/bitaxe — skot9000’s original repository where it all began.
• github.com/BitMaker-hub — BitMaker’s repositories for the NerdAxe, NerdQAxe, and NerdOctaxe hardware designs.

All hardware designs use KiCad for PCB layout — itself an open-source tool — keeping the entire toolchain free and auditable.

Discord — The Daily Heartbeat

The OSMU Discord server is where the real-time action happens. Developers share PCB revision notes. Miners post hashrate screenshots and overclocking results. Firmware bugs get reported and patched, sometimes within hours. And when someone hits a block, the celebration is immediate and genuine.

If you are building, modifying, or running any OSMU hardware, the Discord is essential.

X (Twitter) — News and Announcements

• @skot9000 — Skot’s personal account, where major Bitaxe announcements often break first.
• @BitMaker_ — BitMaker’s account covering NerdAxe/NerdQAxe/NerdOctaxe development.
• #Bitaxe and #OSMU hashtags are active daily with community posts.

Reddit

The r/bitaxe subreddit and related Bitcoin mining subreddits host longer-form discussions, build logs, troubleshooting threads, and the occasional block-win celebration post.

bitaxe.org — The Official Portal

bitaxe.org serves as the central landing page for the project, with links to hardware specifications, firmware downloads, the web flasher, and community resources. The OSMU Wiki (osmu.wiki) provides detailed documentation for every model, API endpoints, installation guides, and troubleshooting references.

Firmware and Software: AxeOS and ESP-Miner

The software side of the Bitaxe ecosystem is just as important as the hardware — and just as open.

ESP-Miner — The Core Firmware

ESP-Miner is the open-source firmware that powers every Bitaxe device. Written for the ESP32-S3 microcontroller, it handles:

• ASIC communication: Driving the BM13xx chips, managing work distribution, reading nonces
• Pool connectivity: Stratum protocol support for connecting to solo pools (Solo CKPool, Public Pool) or traditional pools
• Autotune: Automatic frequency and voltage adjustment to optimize for power, heat, or efficiency
• Web interface: AxeOS, the built-in web UI accessible via WiFi for configuration and monitoring
• OTA updates: Over-the-air firmware updates via the web interface

AxeOS — The Web Interface

AxeOS is the web-based management interface built into ESP-Miner. Connect to your Bitaxe’s WiFi access point (or find it on your network), open a browser, and you get a clean dashboard showing:

• Real-time hashrate and accepted shares
• Temperature and fan speed
• Pool connection status
• Power consumption estimates
• Configuration controls for frequency, voltage, fan settings, and pool details

No app to install. No account to create. No cloud dependency. Just a browser and your miner.

Community Forks and Extensions

Because the firmware is open source, community forks exist. Notable third-party efforts include the TCH fork and various OSMU community modifications that add features like enhanced monitoring, alternative UI layouts, and experimental autotune algorithms. Most troubleshooting steps apply across forks, though some menu names and features may differ.

The official releases page tracks stable firmware versions. The v2.5.0 release included a critical patch for a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability — a reminder that open-source security benefits from community code review and responsible disclosure.

Bitaxe Web Flasher

The bitaxeorg team maintains a web-based flashing tool that lets you update or install firmware directly from your browser via USB — no command-line tools needed. This dramatically lowers the barrier for non-technical users to keep their miners up to date.

Accessories and Mods: The Maker Ecosystem

One of the beautiful things about open-source hardware is the accessory ecosystem that grows around it. When schematics are public, third-party manufacturers and makers can design perfectly fitting cases, heatsinks, stands, and modifications without reverse-engineering anything.

3D-Printed Cases and Stands

The Bitaxe’s compact PCB and standardized mounting holes have spawned a thriving 3D printing community. Designs range from minimalist open-air stands to fully enclosed cases with integrated fan mounts. Popular repositories on Thingiverse and Printables host dozens of community-designed enclosures for every Bitaxe variant.

D-Central’s Pioneering Accessories

D-Central Technologies created the original Bitaxe Mesh Stand — the first commercially manufactured accessory for the Bitaxe ecosystem. This was not just a stand; it was a statement that the Bitaxe ecosystem was real, growing, and worth building around.

The Bitaxe Mesh Standing Case features a durable 3D-printed mesh ventilation design that provides optimal airflow while keeping the miner upright and stable. Its open-source legacy has made it a favorite among solo miners, DIY builders, and distributors globally.

Since that first mesh stand, D-Central has expanded its accessory lineup to include:

• The Bitaxe Modern Stand — Next-generation design with dual-fan engineering and modular construction
• Bitaxe Hex Heatsink — Premium aluminum heatsink engineered specifically for the six-chip Hex series, maximizing thermal dissipation
• Bitaxe Heatsinks — Optimized thermal solutions for standard single-chip Bitaxe models
• Bitaxe Hex Case — Purpose-built enclosure for the larger Hex form factor
• Bitaxe DIY Kits — Everything you need to assemble your own Bitaxe from components

Heatsink Innovations

Thermal management is critical for ASIC performance. The BM1370 chip in the Gamma and GT models generates significant heat in a compact space, and the difference between a stock heatsink and a well-designed aftermarket solution can mean hundreds of additional gigahashes per second when overclocking.

D-Central’s heatsink designs — for both standard Bitaxe and Hex models — were developed through iterative testing, measuring thermal performance under sustained overclocking loads. The goal is always the same: keep the chip cool enough to push frequency higher, safely.

Power Supply Solutions

Different Bitaxe models have different power requirements — from simple 5V USB for NerdMiners and NerdNOS, to 5V/6A barrel jacks for single-chip Bitaxes, to 12V XT30 connectors for multi-chip GT and Hex models. D-Central stocks matched power supplies for every variant, ensuring customers are not hunting for compatible PSUs on generic electronics sites.

D-Central’s Role in the Ecosystem

D-Central Technologies is not a spectator in the open-source mining revolution. We are a pioneer manufacturer and ecosystem builder who has been involved since the Bitaxe’s earliest days.

Our Contributions

• Created the original Bitaxe Mesh Stand — the first company to commercially manufacture a Bitaxe accessory, proving the ecosystem was worth investing in
• Developed custom heatsinks for both standard Bitaxe and Hex models, pushing thermal performance beyond stock capabilities
• Stocks ALL Bitaxe variants — Supra, Ultra, Gamma, Hex, GT, and new models as they launch
• Carries the full Nerd/Open-Source lineup — NerdMiner, NerdNOS, NerdAxe, NerdQAxe++, with more coming as the ecosystem grows
• Provides expert support — Our team has deep experience with every OSMU device, from initial setup to advanced overclocking and troubleshooting
• Builds comprehensive content — Setup guides, overclocking manuals, troubleshooting references, and comparison tools that help the community get the most from their hardware

Why Buy From D-Central?

As open-source hardware, anyone can manufacture and sell Bitaxe devices. That is by design — and we celebrate it. But there are reasons the community trusts D-Central:

• Pioneering history: We were here from the beginning, not jumping on a trend
• Full ecosystem breadth: Every model, every accessory, every power supply — one source, one shipment
• Canadian quality control: Every unit is tested before it ships from our facility
• Expert ASIC knowledge: With 8+ years of ASIC repair experience and 38+ model-specific repair pages, we understand these chips at the silicon level
• Full-service support: Hardware, repair, consulting, training, and hosting — no other open-source mining retailer offers this lifecycle
• Ships worldwide from Canada: Reliable, tracked shipping with no customs ambiguity about the country of origin

Explore our complete selection at the D-Central Bitaxe Hub.

What is Next for OSMU in 2026 and Beyond

The open-source mining movement is not slowing down. Here is what the community is watching:

Next-Generation ASIC Chips

Every time Bitmain releases a new miner with a new ASIC chip, the OSMU community begins the work of reverse-engineering the chip’s interface and integrating it into open-source designs. The progression from BM1397 to BM1366 to BM1368 to BM1370 has delivered consistent efficiency gains. The next chip generation — likely appearing in Bitmain’s upcoming commercial miners — will eventually find its way onto a Bitaxe PCB. The Bitaxe Mini (900 series) prototype is already being designed with forward compatibility in mind.

New Form Factors

The ecosystem is diversifying beyond the single-PCB paradigm. We are seeing:

• Stackable designs that let miners build modular arrays
• Ethernet-equipped models (like the upcoming Mini) for environments where WiFi is unreliable or undesirable
• Integrated heating solutions that channel ASIC waste heat into domestic heating — a space where D-Central’s Bitcoin Space Heaters have been pioneering for years
• Solar-optimized configurations for off-grid mining setups

Growing Adoption

The numbers tell the story: open-source mining hardware has gone from curiosity to confirmed block-finding hardware in under three years. As more models launch, prices decrease, and firmware matures, the barrier to entry keeps dropping. A NerdMiner costs less than a nice dinner. A Bitaxe Gamma costs less than a graphics card. And unlike a graphics card, every hash goes directly toward securing the Bitcoin network.

The broader trend is clear: mining is coming home. Institutional mega-farms are not going away, but the monopoly is fracturing. Every Bitaxe plugged in is a vote for decentralization. Every NerdQAxe++ finding a block is proof that the little guy can still win.

Firmware Maturation

AxeOS and ESP-Miner continue to improve with each release. Community contributions are adding better monitoring, more granular autotune algorithms, improved security, and enhanced pool compatibility. The web flasher makes updates trivial. The open-source model means security vulnerabilities get found and patched by the community rather than hidden by a corporation.

Community-Driven Innovation

Perhaps the most exciting aspect of the OSMU movement is its unpredictability. No roadmap committee decides what gets built next. If someone in the Discord has an idea and the skills to execute it, it happens. The NerdOctaxe exists because someone asked “what if we doubled the NerdQAxe++?” The Bitaxe Gamma Duo exists because someone wanted dual-chip power in a Gamma footprint. The mesh stand exists because D-Central saw a need and filled it.

This is how open source works at its best: distributed innovation, moving faster than any single company could.

Join the Revolution

Whether you are a seasoned miner looking to diversify your hashrate away from pools, a Bitcoiner who wants to directly participate in network security, a maker who wants to solder your own ASIC miner from a kit, or someone who just thinks it is cool to have a tiny Bitcoin miner on your desk — the OSMU ecosystem has something for you.

Here is how to get started:

1. Browse the hardware: Visit the D-Central Bitaxe Hub to explore every model, from NerdMiner to NerdOctaxe
2. Compare your options: Use our Open-Source Miners Comparison 2026 to find the right device for your budget and goals
3. Join the community: Hop into the OSMU Discord and introduce yourself
4. Start hashing: Plug in, configure AxeOS, point to a solo pool, and join the decentralization of Bitcoin mining

Every hash counts. Every miner matters. The revolution is open source.