How to Start Mining Bitcoin at Home: A Pleb’s Guide to the Bitaxe

How to Start Mining Bitcoin at Home: A Pleb’s Guide to the Bitaxe

How to Start Mining Bitcoin at Home: A Pleb’s Guide to the Bitaxe
Bitcoin mining isn’t just for the suits in server farms anymore—it’s for you, the everyday pleb with a power outlet and a passion for freedom. At Plebsource.com, we’re tearing down the walls of the proprietary mining empire, one hobbyist rig at a time. Our weapon of choice? The Bitaxe, an open-source Bitcoin miner designed for the garage, the basement, or anywhere you can plug it in. If you’ve ever wanted to dip your toes into mining, secure the network, and maybe stack some sats along the way, this guide’s for you. We’ll walk you through everything—from unboxing your Plebsource Bitaxe to firing it up and optimizing it for the win. No PhD in cryptography required, just a little grit and a lot of liberty-loving spirit. Let’s get started.
Why Mine at Home? The Pleb Power Play
Before we dive into the how-to, let’s talk why. Bitcoin’s a hard money revolution—21 million coins, no inflation, no central bank meddling. Miners keep it that way, solving cryptographic puzzles to validate transactions and earn rewards. But industrial giants like Bitmain and Marathon have turned it into a corporate game, hoarding hashrate in warehouses while the little guy gets priced out. That’s where the pleb movement—and Plebsource—steps in.
Mining at home with a Bitaxe isn’t about out-hashing the big dogs; it’s about decentralizing the network. Every rig you run is a vote for Bitcoin’s soul—censorship-resistant, trustless, and free. Plus, there’s the thrill of the game: solo miners hit blocks (3.125 BTC, ~$280,000 at $90,000/BTC in March 2025), and even pool mining trickles sats into your wallet. With a Plebsource Bitaxe, you’re not just a hodler—you’re a warrior in the anarcho-capitalist fight. Ready to join? Here’s how.
Step 1: Get Your Gear – Unboxing the Bitaxe
First things first: you need a miner. Head to Plebsource.com and grab a Bitaxe. The Gamma’s our flagship—1.2 terahashes per second (TH/s) for $150-$275, sipping just 15-18 watts. It’s perfect for beginners: compact, efficient, and built for the home. Here’s what you’ll find in the box:
  • Bitaxe Miner: The star, with a BM1370 chip pre-soldered to a custom PCB.
  • Heatsink and Fan: A 40x40mm combo to keep it cool.
  • Power Supply: 5V, 25W with a 5.5x2.1mm barrel jack (check your order—some bundles include it, or grab one for ~$15).
  • OLED Display: A 0.91" screen for stats (removable if you’re a minimalist).
  • Stand: A 3D-printed base to prop it up.
  • Extras: Thermal paste, maybe a quick-start card.
No Bitaxe yet? Any USB miner (like a Futurebit Apollo) works for this guide, but Plebsource’s open-source edge makes the Bitaxe king. Unbox it, admire the craftsmanship, and let’s build.
Step 2: Assemble Your Rig
The Bitaxe arrives mostly assembled, but a few tweaks seal the deal. No soldering required—Plebsource keeps it plug-and-play.
  1. Attach the Heatsink: Dab a pea-sized drop of thermal paste (included, or use something like Arctic MX-4) on the BM1370 chip. Press the heatsink down firmly—good contact is key to avoid frying it at 70°C+.
  2. Mount the Fan: Screw or clip the 5V PWM fan onto the heatsink. It’s quiet-ish (think laptop hum, not jet engine) and auto-adjusts to temperature.
  3. Plug in the Display: Snap the OLED into its slot on the PCB. It’ll light up once powered, showing hashrate, temp, and more.
  4. Set the Stand: Pop the Bitaxe into its 3D-printed base. It’s optional but keeps things tidy.
Double-check connections—loose fans or displays can glitch. Done? You’ve got a rig. Now, let’s power it up.
Step 3: Connect and Configure
Time to bring your Bitaxe to life. You’ll need a power outlet, WiFi, and a device (phone or laptop) for setup.
  1. Power Up: Plug the 5V PSU into the Bitaxe’s barrel jack and flip the switch (if included) or just connect it. The fan spins, the OLED flickers—hello, world!
  2. WiFi Setup: The Bitaxe’s ESP32-S3 module runs AxeOS, a slick open-source firmware. On first boot, it broadcasts a WiFi network (e.g., “Bitaxe-Setup”). Connect to it via your device, then visit 192.168.4.1 in a browser. Enter your home WiFi credentials—boom, it’s online.
  3. Update Firmware (Optional): AxeOS auto-updates, but check Plebsource.com or Skot’s GitHub (
    @skot9000
    on X) for the latest. Flash it via the web interface if you’re feeling fancy—takes 5 minutes.
Your Bitaxe is humming, but it’s not mining yet. Let’s pick a strategy.
Step 4: Choose Your Mining Path – Solo or Pool?
You’ve got two roads: solo mining or pool mining. Both work with the Bitaxe; it’s your call.
  • Solo Mining: You’re a lone wolf, chasing full block rewards (3.125 BTC + fees). Odds are slim—1.2 TH/s vs. 600 EH/s means a 1-in-millions shot—but plebs have hit jackpots. Point your Bitaxe to a solo pool like Solo CK or run a full node (e.g., Bitcoin Core) and mine direct. Configure via the AxeOS web interface: enter your wallet address, set the pool URL (e.g., solo.ckpool.org), and go.
  • Pool Mining: Steady sats, lower risk. Join a pool like Slush Pool, F2Pool, or Luxor, where your hashrate combines with others for shared rewards. Sign up, get a worker ID, and plug it into AxeOS (e.g., stratum+tcp://us1.slushpool.com:3333). Payouts scale with your 1.2 TH/s—think cents daily, dollars monthly.
Solo’s the libertarian dream—total control, no middlemen. Pools are practical, especially at $0.10/kWh (more on that later). Newbies? Start with a pool. Configure it, hit save, and watch the OLED: “Hashing at 1.2 TH/s.” You’re in.
Step 5: Optimize for Profit and Pride
Mining’s live—now make it sing. Here’s how to tweak your Bitaxe for max value:
  • Power Costs: At 18W, the Gamma uses 0.43 kWh daily. At $0.10/kWh, that’s $0.04/day or $1.30/month. Bitcoin’s price and difficulty (80 trillion in 2025) dictate earnings—pool mining might net $0.50-$1/month, solo’s a lottery. Cheap power (solar, $0.05/kWh) or high BTC prices ($100k+) tip the scales.
  • Placement: Keep it cool—60-70°C is safe, 80°C+ risks damage. A basement or ventilated spot beats a hot attic. Noise (30-40 dB) is low—think fridge hum—but a foam pad dampens it.
  • Overclocking: Advanced plebs can tweak voltage in AxeOS for 1.3-1.5 TH/s. Risky—heat spikes—so monitor temps. Stock settings are fine for most.
  • Pool Fees: Slush charges 2%, F2Pool 2.5%. Solo’s fee-free but rare wins. Pick what fits your vibe.
Profit’s nice, but decentralization’s the prize. Your 1.2 TH/s joins thousands of Plebsource rigs, pushing back against centralized hashrate. That’s the real ROI.
Troubleshooting: When the Sats Don’t Flow
Bumps happen. Fan not spinning? Check the plug. No hashrate? Verify pool settings or WiFi. OLED blank? Reseat it. If you’re stuck, hit up Plebsource’s support or the Bitaxe Discord—plebs help plebs. X is gold too—
@skot9000
and the community troubleshoot live.
The Pleb Miner’s Journey: Next Steps
You’re mining! A Bitaxe Gamma’s 1.2 TH/s won’t flood your wallet overnight—industrial rigs do 200 TH/s—but that’s not the point. You’re securing Bitcoin, stacking sats, and spitting in the face of mining monopolies. Want more? Scale up—grab a second Bitaxe, try a Multi (coming soon), or go solar. The pleb movement grows with every rig.
At Plebsource.com, we’re not just selling miners; we’re arming you to take Bitcoin back. The Bitaxe is your ticket—affordable, open-source, and built for the fight. Plug in, power up, and join the revolution. The network’s counting on you—one terahash at a time.