On July 9, a solo miner achieved a remarkable feat by mining Bitcoin block #957382 using a Bitaxe Gamma device that costs just $150. This unexpected success earned them 3.1382 BTC, valued at around $200,000 at that moment.
Details of the Mining Success
The Bitaxe Gamma is an ASIC miner designed for hobbyists, boasting an open-source design and Wi-Fi capabilities. Weighing in at a modest power consumption of 15 to 21 watts, it operates efficiently with a monthly electricity cost of just $1 to $2. The miner, who connected to Public Pool a zero-fee solo mining platform reaped the entire block reward without sharing it with others. At the time of the win, the Bitcoin network's hashrate was approximately 874 EH/s, making the miner's device one of a kind in terms of capability and luck.
Winning a block at a hashrate of 1 TH/s is statistically rare, with odds of about 1 in 87 million. Typically, such a device would expect to mine a block once every several thousand years. However, this miner managed it in a single attempt, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the cryptocurrency mining landscape.
A Growing Trend in Solo Mining
This isn't an isolated incident; 2026 has seen an uptick in solo mining victories involving inexpensive or unconventional hardware. Earlier this year, another miner using rented hashpower worth approximately $75 also netted around $200,000 in a solo block win. Similarly, in April, a user connected to CKPool, a low-fee solo mining service, secured a reward valued at about $210,000.
The Bitaxe project’s open-source nature facilitates a thriving community of small-scale miners who view mining as more of a hobby than a commercial venture. This trend raises questions about mining centralization in the Bitcoin ecosystem, a topic that remains a persistent concern among enthusiasts and experts alike.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
