Bitcoin Mining
Secure the network. Earn sats. Learn by doing. The complete guide to understanding, starting, and optimizing Bitcoin mining operations.
Why Mine Bitcoin?
Most people buy Bitcoin on an exchange. That works, and it is the easiest path. But mining offers something exchanges cannot: direct participation in the Bitcoin network without an intermediary.
When you mine Bitcoin, you are running the software that validates transactions and secures the blockchain. Every hash your machine computes contributes to the decentralization that makes Bitcoin censorship resistant. No KYC required. No exchange account. No counterparty risk. The coins go directly from the protocol to your wallet.
Sovereignty
Acquire Bitcoin without exchanges, KYC, or third-party custody. Coins land directly in your wallet from the protocol itself.
Network Security
Every hash you contribute makes Bitcoin harder to attack. Home miners distribute hashrate geographically, reducing centralization risk.
Deep Learning
Mining teaches you how Bitcoin actually works at the protocol level. There is no substitute for running the infrastructure yourself.
Mining is not just about money. It is about understanding the machinery that makes sound money possible and contributing your own compute power to keep it running.
This does not mean mining is right for everyone. Electricity costs, hardware investment, noise, and heat are real considerations. This hub walks through every aspect honestly, so you can decide whether mining fits your situation and goals.
Mining Guides
Mining Basics
What is mining, why it matters, and how hashrate secures the network.
Read guideHardware Guide
Bitaxe Gamma, Antminer S23, S21 Pro, Whatsminer compared. EU electricity cost modeling included.
Read guidePool Tutorial
Foundry, AntPool, ViaBTC, and solo mining. When to use each.
Read guideROI Calculator
Real profitability modeling with sovereignty and learning context.
Read guideHome Mining
Practical setup, heat management, noise, and energy independence.
Read guideMining at a Glance
ASIC miner (or Bitaxe for learning), stable power, internet connection, mining pool account, Bitcoin wallet.
$120 to $250 for a Bitaxe Gamma (educational). $2,200 to $9,000 for a competitive ASIC setup (S21 Pro to S23).
Electricity is 80% to 95% of your operating expense. Internet, cooling, and maintenance are minor.
Block reward (currently 3.125 BTC per block) plus transaction fees, split proportionally by your pool contribution.
Joules per terahash (J/TH). Lower means more efficient. The latest ASICs achieve 11 to 15 J/TH, with the Antminer S23 leading at 11 J/TH.
The Honest Truth About Profitability
At European electricity prices (€0.25 to €0.35/kWh), most home mining operations will not turn a direct fiat profit. At US average rates ($0.12 to $0.16/kWh), profitability depends on Bitcoin price and network difficulty. Below $0.08/kWh, mining becomes genuinely attractive from a pure economics standpoint.
But profitability is only one lens. If you value acquiring non-KYC Bitcoin, learning how the network works, heating your home with ASIC exhaust, or contributing to decentralization, the calculus changes entirely. The ROI Calculator helps you model all of these factors.
Getting Started
Learn the fundamentals. Understand what mining does and why it matters before spending money. Mining Basics →
Decide your goal. Learning and tinkering? Get a Bitaxe. Serious hashrate? Research ASICs. Hardware Guide →
Calculate your costs. Know your electricity rate. Model breakeven before you buy anything. ROI Calculator →
Choose a mining pool. Pool mining gives you predictable, regular payouts instead of lottery odds. Pool Tutorial →
Set up your environment. Power, ventilation, noise management. Plan the physical setup. Home Mining Guide →
Secure your Bitcoin. Point pool payouts to a hardware wallet. Not your keys, not your coins. Hardware Wallets →
Monitor and optimize. Track hashrate, temperature, and power consumption. Adjust over time. Network Stats →
Bitaxe: The DIY Miner
If Bitcoin.diy had to recommend one product that embodies the DIY spirit of Bitcoin, it would be the Bitaxe open-source mining project. Unlike commercial ASICs from Bitmain or MicroBT, Bitaxe hardware designs are fully open-source. Anyone can inspect, modify, or build their own.
Bitaxe Gamma 601
The latest single-chip model uses the same BM1370 chip found in the Antminer S21 Pro. Delivers 1.0 to 1.2 TH/s at just 15 to 18 watts with remarkable 12 to 15 J/TH efficiency.
Bitaxe Supra Hex 702
Six BM1368 chips deliver 3.5 to 4.2 TH/s at 75 to 90 watts. The best price-to-hashrate ratio in the open-source category. Quiet enough for home use.
Why We Recommend Bitaxe for Beginners
- Open-source hardware and firmware: No vendor lock-in. Inspect every line of code and every circuit trace. Modify firmware to your needs.
- Silent and power-efficient: Runs quieter than a laptop fan at 35 dB. Powers from a USB-C adapter. No dedicated circuits, no noise complaints.
- Community-driven development: Active GitHub repository, Discord community, and regular firmware updates from contributors worldwide.
- Real mining education: Pool mining, solo mining, difficulty adjustment, hashrate monitoring, all from a device on your desk. The best way to learn.
- Built-in dashboard: Wi-Fi connectivity with a browser-based interface and optional OLED display showing real-time hashrate and temperature.
Available from retailers like Solo Satoshi, BitaxeShop, and Bitcoin Merch. See our full Hardware Guide for detailed comparisons, and the ROI Calculator to model costs for your specific situation.
Related Guides and Tools
What Is Bitcoin?
Understand the fundamentals before diving into mining.
ReadSelf-Custody Guide
Secure the Bitcoin you mine with proper cold storage.
ReadNetwork Stats
Live hashrate, difficulty, and block data.
ReadHalving Countdown
Track the next halving and its impact on mining rewards.
ReadBitcoin Finance 101
Portfolio strategy and DCA for the Bitcoin you mine.
ReadHardware Wallets
Move mined Bitcoin off exchanges to cold storage.
ReadFrequently Asked Questions
Explore More Hubs
Affiliate Disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. We only recommend products we genuinely believe in. Our reviews are not influenced by affiliate partnerships.