Product Overview

The Bitaxe Supra Hex 4.2Th is a seventh-generation open-source Bitcoin solo miner from the Bitaxe project — a community-driven, open hardware initiative that creates compact, ESP32-based Bitcoin SHA-256 miners for home enthusiasts. The Supra Hex is Bitaxe’s most powerful configuration in the Supra line, equipped with six BM1368 ASIC chips to deliver over 4.2 terahashes per second at remarkably low power consumption.

Unlike commercial ASIC miners designed for pool mining at industrial scale, the Bitaxe Supra Hex is primarily designed for solo Bitcoin mining — attempting to find a valid Bitcoin block independently and claim the full block reward. While the odds of any individual solo miner finding a block are extremely low, the appeal lies in the “lottery” aspect: a winning block yields a full BTC block reward (currently 3.125 BTC post-halving). The low power draw, silent operation, and open-source nature make this one of the most appealing home Bitcoin mining devices available globally.

For South African Bitcoin enthusiasts, the Bitaxe Supra Hex offers an exceptional opportunity: home Bitcoin mining that barely registers on an electricity bill, runs silently from a USB-C power source, and can be left running 24/7 through load shedding on even a small USB power bank — bringing a uniquely accessible form of Bitcoin network participation to SA homes.

Key Features

• 4.2 TH/s hashrate (6× BM1368 chips): Six Bitmain BM1368 ASIC chips in a single compact board deliver over 4 TH/s — the highest hashrate in the Bitaxe Supra family. The BM1368 is Bitmain’s efficient chip from the S21 series, repurposed here for open-source home mining.
• ~15W power consumption: Extraordinarily low power draw. The Supra Hex runs on USB-C power — approximately 15W total — making it one of the most electricity-efficient mining devices on this site by an enormous margin.
• Open-source hardware and firmware: The Bitaxe project is fully open source — PCB schematics, BOM, firmware (AxeOS), and software are all publicly available. This means a large global community maintaining and improving the platform continuously.
• Solo mining focus with pool compatibility: By default used with solo Bitcoin mining via solo.ckpool.org or similar solo pools. Can also be configured for traditional pool mining if preferred.
• Compact USB-C powered design: No dedicated power supply required — runs from any USB-C charger rated at 20W or above. Smaller than a paperback book, it can sit on any surface.
• ESP32 Wi-Fi and web interface: Built-in Wi-Fi (no Ethernet cable required) with a local web dashboard for monitoring hashrate, temperature, and pool status.
• Near-silent operation: At 15W, the thermal load is minimal. The small cooling fan is nearly inaudible in normal room conditions — genuinely suitable for bedrooms and living spaces.

Technical Specifications

• Algorithm: SHA-256d
• Supported coins: Bitcoin (BTC) — primarily for solo mining
• Hashrate: ~4.2 TH/s (varies with chip tuning; can be adjusted via AxeOS)
• Power consumption: ~15W (at USB-C 5V input)
• Power efficiency: ~3.6 J/TH (exceptional for open-source hardware)
• Cooling type: Small integrated fan; near-silent at 15W load
• Noise level: Near-silent — essentially inaudible in normal room conditions
• Input voltage: USB-C (5V; use 20W+ USB-C charger)
• Networking: Wi-Fi (2.4GHz); no Ethernet port on standard Bitaxe
• Controller: ESP32-S3 microcontroller
• Firmware: AxeOS (open source)
• Operating temperature: 0°C to 40°C (keep out of direct sunlight)
• Dimensions: Credit-card sized PCB in small enclosure — confirm dimensions at order
• Weight: Under 200g

Power & Installation Notes

South Africa’s 230V/50Hz supply is not directly relevant — the Bitaxe Supra Hex runs from USB-C power and only requires a standard USB-C charger. Any modern phone charger or USB-C power adapter rated at 20W or above (5V/3A or 9V/2A) will power it. The device draws approximately 15W in normal operation.

There is no dedicated circuit required, no electrician, no high-amperage wiring — simply plug into a USB-C charger and connect to your home Wi-Fi network. It works on any standard South African power outlet via your USB-C charger’s standard plug.

Load shedding is essentially a non-issue with the Bitaxe. At 15W, even a small 20,000mAh USB power bank (approximately 100Wh of usable capacity) can power the Supra Hex for over 6 hours. A standard home battery inverter can run it for days without interruption. This makes it the most load-shedding-resilient Bitcoin miner available.

Setup is straightforward: power on, connect to the AxeOS Wi-Fi configuration portal via your phone or laptop, set your home Wi-Fi credentials and solo pool URL, and the device begins mining automatically. No additional configuration is required for casual solo mining.

Electricity Cost Context — South Africa

Running the Bitaxe Supra Hex at 15W continuously consumes approximately 0.36 kWh per day, or roughly 10.8 kWh per month. At R2.80/kWh (reference residential tariff — municipal rates vary), the estimated monthly electricity cost is approximately R30 per month.

Calculation: (15 ÷ 1000) × 24 × 30 × R2.80 = ~R30/month.

At approximately R30 per month, the Bitaxe Supra Hex has the lowest electricity operating cost of any mining device on this site. It’s effectively negligible — less than the cost of a few cups of coffee. Solo mining at this scale is a lottery: the probability of finding a Bitcoin block at 4.2 TH/s vs the network’s ~800 EH/s total hashrate is approximately 1 in 200 million per day, but the device runs indefinitely at near-zero cost and some miners have won. This is not a profitability tool — it is a Bitcoin participation device.

Ideal Use Cases

• Bitcoin enthusiasts and hobbyists: The Bitaxe is for people who want to participate in Bitcoin mining as a hobby, education, or lottery — not as a primary income source. It’s a fascinating piece of hardware that connects you to the Bitcoin network.
• Load-shedding-proof Bitcoin mining: With 15W draw and USB power bank compatibility, the Bitaxe runs through any South African load shedding scenario without interruption.
• Bitcoin education and experimentation: The open-source AxeOS firmware, accessible web dashboard, and active community make the Bitaxe an excellent learning tool for understanding Bitcoin mining, hash functions, and proof-of-work.
• Solo mining for the Bitcoin lottery: Mining directly to a Bitcoin wallet address via solo.ckpool.org, attempting to find a valid block and earn the full block reward — the classic Bitcoin mining dream at minimal cost.
• Gift for Bitcoin holders and curious people: One of the most unique Bitcoin-related gifts available — a fully functional Bitcoin miner that anyone can run in their home at coffee-shop electricity prices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Bitaxe Supra Hex work on South African power?
Yes — it runs from any USB-C charger. Your SA power outlet powers the charger, which powers the device. No special electrical infrastructure needed whatsoever.

Can I realistically win Bitcoin with the Bitaxe?
Technically yes — some Bitaxe users have won blocks. But at 4.2 TH/s against the network’s ~800 EH/s hashrate, the probability on any given day is approximately 1 in 200 million. Think of it like a lottery ticket that costs R30/month in electricity to play every second, every day.

Can I use it for pool mining instead of solo mining?
Yes. The Bitaxe supports standard Stratum pool mining. Configure any SHA-256 pool in the AxeOS web interface. Note that at 4.2 TH/s, your pool income will be very small but consistent — most users prefer solo mining for the lottery experience.

How does this compare to the BitAxe Gamma 601?
The Gamma 601 is a single-chip Bitaxe offering ~1.2 TH/s at ~5W. The Supra Hex’s six-chip design delivers ~4.2 TH/s at ~15W — approximately 3.5× more hashrate. See also: BitAxe Gamma 601 1.2Th.

Does it need Ethernet?
No — the Bitaxe uses Wi-Fi (2.4GHz). It connects directly to your home router. No Ethernet cable or wired connection required.

What’s Included

• 1× Bitaxe Supra Hex 4.2Th open-source Bitcoin miner unit
• USB-C power cable (confirm included in package at order)
• USB-C power adapter not always included — a 20W USB-C charger is required
• No Ethernet cable needed (uses Wi-Fi)
• Setup documentation / AxeOS firmware pre-installed