Jul 14, 2026, 4:43 a.m.
2 min read
Summary
- A solo miner using a low-power, credit-card-sized Bitaxe device unexpectedly mined Bitcoin block 957,382, earning 3.1382 BTC worth about $200,000 despite odds estimated at once in 18,000 years.
- The Bitaxe, an open-source ASIC miner using the same chip as industrial Antminer S21 machines, delivers about 1 to 1.3 terahashes per second at 15 to 21 watts and costs between $60 and $150.
- Solo Bitcoin mining has surged, with 24 blocks found in the past 12 months, a 41% increase year over year.
A solo bitcoin miner recently hit the jackpot in a lottery-like stroke of luck, turning a modest investment into an outsized gain.
The miner equipped with a small, hobbyist-grade device called a Bitaxe recently struck Bitcoin block number 957,382 and walked away with 3.1382 BTC, worth roughly $200,000.
The miner was running the rig for just eight hours through the Public Pool service. His average hash rate? A measly 995 GH/s, or about 1 terahash per second.
This marks the second time a single Bitaxe has solo-mined a block on Public Pool.
Data tracking handle Public Pool posted the win on X.
What is a Bitaxe?
It’s an open-source, credit-card-sized ASIC miner powered by the same Bitmain BM1370 chip found in massive industrial Antminer S21 machines. The Bitaxe Gamma version pumps out 1 to 1.3 TH/s while using just 15-21 watts of power. You can buy one for $60 to $150.
Think of it as the mining equivalent of winning the lottery with a scratch-off ticket from a gas station.
Solo mining is having a moment
This isn’t the first time a solo miner has made big gains on a small investment.
Solo miners have already found 12 blocks in 2026 alone. On June 29, someone on Solo CKPool landed 3.16 BTC. Back on May 31, a miner using a small cluster of 14 Canaan Nano devices (totaling 157 TH/s) hit a block on Braiins Solo.
Over the past 12 months, solo miners have claimed 24 blocks, which equates to a 41% jump from the year before, pocketing a total payout of 75.44 BTC.
While solo miners continue to win, the broader industry is under serious pressure. With margins squeezed, several big Bitcoin mining companies are rushing to pivot into artificial intelligence data centers and related infrastructure to stay afloat.
Bitcoin mining difficulty dropped 5% to 127.17 trillion on July 12. It had plunged more than 10% in mid-June before partially recovering.
AI Disclaimer: Parts of this article were generated with the assistance from AI tools and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our standards. For more information, see CoinDesk's full AI Policy.
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