How to set up a Bitaxe: step-by-step guide

Setting up a Bitaxe takes about 15 minutes. You need no prior knowledge and no extra software, because everything happens in the browser. This guide goes through each step and names exactly the values you have to enter. It applies to the Bitaxe Gamma 601, Gamma Copper Pro, GT 801 and Supra Hex 702.

Got a Nerdaxe, NerdQaxe or NerdOctaxe? Their setup differs in several places, so they have a separate Nerdaxe guide.

What you need

• The Bitaxe and the included power supply.
• A 2.4 GHz WiFi network. The Bitaxe cannot use 5 GHz, and this is the most common reason a setup stalls.
• Your own on-chain Bitcoin address (usually starting with bc1q) from a wallet you control.
• A phone or laptop for the setup.

1. Connect the power supply

Place the Bitaxe on a stable surface with free airflow and connect the power supply. The Gamma 601 and Gamma Copper Pro run on 5V through the barrel jack of the included 5V/6A supply. The GT 801 needs 12V, which it gets through the XT30 connector of its own supply. On these three the USB-C port is only for flashing and the serial console, not for power. The Supra Hex 702 draws the most, with six ASICs and around 90 watts: 12V / 10A through its own barrel jack. It will not start at all on a 5V supply.

2. Join the setup WiFi

On first boot the Bitaxe has no WiFi credentials yet, so it creates its own network. Open the WiFi list on your phone or laptop. A network called Bitaxe_XXXX appears; the four characters differ from device to device. Connect to it. No password is required.

Your phone may warn that there is no internet. That is expected: you are connected directly to the miner, not to your router.

3. Open the setup page

Visit http://192.168.4.1 in your browser. While you are on the setup WiFi, that address belongs to the Bitaxe itself. The AxeOS setup page opens.

If nothing appears, type the address in again by hand, because some browsers turn it into a search query. Check that it starts with http:// and not https://.

4. Enter your home WiFi

Select your network or type its name (SSID), enter the WiFi password and save. The Bitaxe reboots and joins your home network, which takes about 20 to 30 seconds. Your phone then switches back to your normal WiFi on its own.

5. Find the miner’s IP address

The Bitaxe is now on your network and has its own IP address, for example 192.168.178.42. There are two ways to find it:

• If your device has a display, the IP is shown right there.
• Otherwise, check the device list in your router. The entry is usually called “bitaxe” or something similar.

Open that IP in your browser. From now on this is your AxeOS dashboard. Tip: give the miner a static IP in your router so the dashboard always stays at the same address.

6. Enter pool and Bitcoin address

In this step you decide where a found block gets paid out. Go to Settings in the dashboard and fill in these fields:

• Stratum URL / host: your pool’s address, e.g. eusolo.ckpool.org
• Stratum port: the matching port, usually 3333
• Stratum User: your own Bitcoin address
• Fallback Stratum User: the same Bitcoin address again (backup pool)
• Stratum password: usually just x

Which pool you pick is up to you. Our solo pool comparison lists endpoints, fees and the measured starting difficulty. For miners in Europe, eusolo.ckpool.org is a sensible default, since it is the European endpoint of ckpool and keeps the route short.

7. Save and restart

Save the settings and then press the Restart button at the bottom of the Settings page. The Bitaxe reboots in about 20 seconds and then connects to your pool.

8. Check that everything works

Now look at the dashboard. Three values tell you whether everything is fine:

• Accepted shares: this number must rise. The first share can take a few minutes.
• Hashrate: should roughly match the datasheet (Gamma 601 ~1.3 TH/s) and move up and down by a few percent, which is normal.
• Temperature: below roughly 70 °C is healthy.

Once accepted shares appear, the miner is working for your address on the Bitcoin network. You can also check your stats on your pool’s website by entering your Bitcoin address there.

If something does not work

• No Bitaxe_XXXX network visible: unplug, wait 10 seconds, power it up again, then refresh the WiFi list.
• 192.168.4.1 does not load: check that you are really on the Bitaxe WiFi. Turn mobile data off for a moment so your phone does not route around it.
• It will not join your home WiFi: check the 2.4 GHz band (see above) and enter the password again.
• No shares after 15 minutes: check pool address, port and Bitcoin address for typos. Is your address in the Stratum User field?
• Reboots under load: almost always the power supply, see step 1.
• Hashrate too low: usually heat. Give it more space, check the airflow, or add a cooling upgrade such as the AXP60 Copper Pro or ICE Tower.

More symptoms are covered in the troubleshooting guide. If you get stuck, write to us and we will help you with the setup.

After the setup

Let the Bitaxe run on its default settings for a few days first. If you then want more efficiency or hashrate, the AxeOS tuning guide explains how to adjust frequency and voltage carefully. Firmware updates are easiest with our firmware flasher. Pick the right board variant (Gamma 601, GT 801, Supra Hex 702); AxeOS shows it under Settings → Device Model.