Solo Bitcoin Miner Earns $200,000 Using $150 Bitaxe Equipment
A solo miner recently mined Bitcoin block 957,382 with a Bitaxe device worth just $150, earning approximately $200,000. The surge in solo mining is notable, with 24 blocks found in the last 12 months, marking a 41% annual increase, according to CoinDesk.
A recent solo mining success story highlights the potential of low-cost mining equipment in the Bitcoin space. A miner utilizing a credit-card-sized device known as a Bitaxe managed to mine Bitcoin block number 957,382, securing 3.1382 BTC valued at about $200,000. This feat was achieved in just eight hours using the Public Pool service, with the miner's average hash rate at approximately 1 terahash per second (TH/s).
The Bitaxe is an open-source application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) miner powered by the same chip used in larger industrial miners, such as the Antminer S21. The device operates at a low power consumption of 15 to 21 watts and is available for a price ranging from $60 to $150. Its performance is notable considering that the odds of successfully mining a block with such equipment are calculated to be about once in 18,000 years.
This achievement is part of a broader trend in the Bitcoin mining sector, where solo miners have found significant success with minimal investments. According to reports, solo miners found 12 blocks in 2026 alone up to the date of this writing. This success includes another recent win where a miner on Solo CKPool secured 3.16 BTC.
Data analysis by the handle Public Pool indicates a considerable increase in solo mining activity, as miners have claimed a total of 24 blocks over the past year. This marks a 41% increase compared to the previous year, with a collective payout of 75.44 BTC for these blocks.
Despite these individual successes, the overall Bitcoin mining industry faces challenges. With profit margins being squeezed, larger mining firms are exploring alternatives, including investments in artificial intelligence data centers, to remain viable. The difficulty for Bitcoin mining dropped 5% to 127.17 trillion on July 12, following a greater drop of over 10% in mid-June.
As the landscape continues to evolve, both large and small miners will need to navigate these fluctuations in mining difficulty and market trends. The trend of solo mining could be an avenue for hobbyists and small investors to achieve notable gains under the right circumstances.
Summary based on original reporting by Omkar Godbole at CoinDesk, originally published Jul 14, 2026. SolanaWire does not republish source content.
Bitcoin Drops Over 2% as Rate Hike Bets Increase Ahead of Inflation Data
Bitcoin's price has fallen by more than 2% in the last 24 hours to $62,380 amid heightened expectations of a Federal Reserve rate hike in July, as reported by CoinDesk. This shift follows comments from Fed officials suggesting the need to control inflation, alongside rising oil prices and geopolitical tensions.
4 hours ago·CoinDesk·Reported by Omkar Godbole
OpenAI Introduces GPT-5.6 Prompting Guidelines Focused on Outcomes
OpenAI releases a new prompting guide for GPT-5.6 that emphasizes simplified, outcome-focused prompts. According to Decrypt, internal tests indicate that leaner prompts enhance evaluation scores significantly while reducing costs and token usage.
8 hours ago·Decrypt·Reported by Jose Antonio Lanz
Protestors Call for Pause in AI Development at OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google DeepMind
Approximately 200 demonstrators marched in San Francisco on July 13, 2026, urging leading AI firms to halt the development of advanced models, citing concerns about AI safety and environmental factors, according to Decrypt.
9 hours ago·Decrypt·Reported by Jason Nelson
New Hampshire Governor Signs 'Blockchain Basic Laws' for Crypto Protection
On July 13, 2026, New Hampshire's Governor Kelly Ayotte signed the Blockchain Basic Laws, enhancing protections for cryptocurrency users and developers. The new law also includes provisions for a specialized blockchain dispute docket in the superior court, marking a significant step in the state's initiative to foster blockchain innovation, according to Decrypt.
10 hours ago·Decrypt·Reported by Logan Hitchcock
Trending this week
Bolivia Considers Adding Tether's USDT to National Payments System
Bolivia is evaluating the integration of Tether's USDT stablecoin into its national payments system, according to CoinDesk. This step follows a significant rise in cryptocurrency transactions in the country after restrictions were lifted in mid-2024, with transactions reaching $430 million in volume.
16 hours ago·CoinDesk·Reported by Francisco Rodrigues
Anthropic Analyzes Claude's Behavioral Variability Across Models and Languages
Anthropic's research shows that its AI, Claude, expresses distinct values based on the selected model and spoken language, as detailed in a report by Decrypt. The study analyzed over 309,000 conversations, identifying four key behavioral dimensions that influenced Claude's responses.
10 hours ago·Decrypt·Reported by Jason Nelson
Binance.US Targets 20% U.S. Market Share After Regulatory Challenges
Binance.US CEO Stephen Gregory outlines the exchange's strategy to regain its previous 20% share of the U.S. market after two years of regulatory hurdles, as reported by CoinDesk. The plan involves ultra-low fees, new regulated products, and increased liquidity through customer engagement.
10 hours ago·CoinDesk·Reported by AI Boost
Senate Democrats Oppose Clarity Act Over Crypto Ethics Concerns
Senate Democrats, including Elizabeth Warren, are increasing opposition to the Clarity Act, highlighting the absence of provisions preventing President Trump's family from profiting from cryptocurrency. As Congress approaches its August recess, the bill requires significant bipartisan support to pass, according to Decrypt.
11 hours ago·Decrypt·Reported by Sander Lutz
