Introduction: The Revolution of Home Mining
In the early days of Bitcoin, anyone could mine blocks with a simple CPU. As the network difficulty skyrocketed, mining became an industry dominated by massive warehouses filled with loud, power-hungry ASICs. However, a new trend is emerging in 2026: Open Source Home Mining. Leading this charge is the Bitaxe series (Ultra, Supra, Hex).
The Bitaxe is not just a piece of hardware; it is a statement. It allows individuals to participate in the Bitcoin network, securing the blockchain from their living rooms, without the deafening noise of industrial miners. Whether you are running a Bitaxe Ultra (BM1366) or the newer Supra, connecting it to a reliable, low-fee pool is crucial to maximize your potential returns.
In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through setting up your Bitaxe with Gokby Pool. We will cover everything from the initial unboxing to fine-tuning your settings for maximum efficiency.
Part 1: Preparing Your Hardware
Before we dive into the software configuration, ensure your hardware is ready. The Bitaxe is a delicate piece of engineering. Unlike rugged Antminers, it often comes as a bare PCB with a fan.
- Power Supply: Ensure you are using a high-quality 5V/4A power supply. Unstable power can lead to frequent reboots or hashing errors.
- Cooling: The BM1366 chip is efficient but generates heat. Ensure the fan is spinning freely and the heatsink is properly seated.
- Placement: Place the miner in a well-ventilated area with a stable WiFi signal.
Part 2: Connecting to the Network
The Bitaxe runs on an ESP32 microcontroller, which handles the WiFi connection and the mining stratum protocol. Here is how to get it online:
1. Access Point Mode
When you first power on your Bitaxe (or after a factory reset), it will not know your WiFi credentials. It will create its own WiFi hotspot.
- Take your smartphone or laptop.
- Search for a WiFi network named Bitaxe_XXXX (the last 4 characters are unique to your device).
- Connect to it. You may be prompted to "Sign in to network". If not, open your browser and type 192.168.4.1.
2. WiFi Configuration
On the configuration page, click on "Settings" or "WiFi". Select your home SSID (2.4GHz networks are preferred for range) and enter your password carefully. Save and Reboot.
Part 3: Configuring the Stratum Settings (Crucial Step)
This is where the magic happens. To earn Bitcoin, your miner needs to communicate with a mining pool. The pool distributes work (shares) to your miner and submits the results to the Bitcoin network.
Why choose Gokby Pool? Most large pools charge 2% fees and have high payout thresholds. We offer a 0.5% fee and a fair PPLNS reward system, optimized for European latency.
Navigate to the Stratum tab in your Bitaxe web interface and enter the following details exactly:
Stratum URL:stratum+tcp://btc.gokby.com
Port:3333
Stratum User:YOUR_BTC_ADDRESS (e.g., bc1q...)
Stratum Password:x (or leave empty)
Understanding the Settings
- URL & Port: This connects you to our TCP server via port 3333, the standard for SHA-256 mining.
- User: This MUST be your valid Bitcoin wallet address. If you enter this incorrectly, the payouts will go to the wrong address (or nowhere). Double-check this!
- Password: This field is legacy and not used for authentication by the pool, but some miners require a value. "x" is the standard placeholder
Click SAVE. Your Bitaxe will restart. Watch the screen (or the web interface). Within 30 seconds, you should see the hashrate climbing (e.g., 500 GH/s for an Ultra).
Part 4: Monitoring and Optimization
Now that your miner is hashing, head over to the Gokby Dashboard. Enter your wallet address in the search bar (or login if you registered). You should see your worker appear as "Active".
Fine-Tuning (Advanced)
The Bitaxe allows you to adjust the core voltage and frequency. This is known as "under-volting" or "over-clocking".
- Efficiency First: Try lowering the voltage slightly while maintaining the frequency. This increases your Efficiency (J/TH), meaning you pay less for electricity for the same amount of Bitcoin.
- Performance First: Increase frequency for more hashrate, but watch the temperature! Keep the core below 70°C for longevity.
Conclusion
Setting up a Bitaxe is a rewarding experience. You are not just earning potential rewards; you are learning about the fundamental technology of money. By mining on Gokby Pool, you support a decentralized, low-fee infrastructure while maximizing your own profits through our transparent PPLNS system.
Ready to add more miners? Our servers scale with you, whether you have one Bitaxe or a farm of Antminers. Happy Hashing!
