Product Overview

The Nerdnos is a compact open-source SHA-256 Bitcoin lottery miner delivering approximately 100 GH/s from a dedicated ASIC chip in a small, low-power form factor. Part of the growing ecosystem of hobby-grade solo Bitcoin miners, the Nerdnos uses a BM1366 ASIC chip — the same chip used in the Bitmain Antminer S19 XP series — giving it real Bitcoin mining capability in a device that draws approximately 10–12W from a USB-C power source.

At 100 GH/s, the Nerdnos represents a meaningful step up from microcontroller-based miners like the Nerdminer S19 (156 KH/s) that use an ESP32 CPU for SHA-256. With a proper ASIC chip, the Nerdnos achieves 100,000× more hashrate than microcontroller miners while still operating at ultra-low power. It runs AxeOS or similar open-source firmware and connects via Wi-Fi for pool configuration and monitoring.

For South African Bitcoin enthusiasts, the Nerdnos represents a compelling option in the hobby miner space: genuine ASIC-level Bitcoin mining at minimal operating cost, with complete load-shedding resilience on any USB power source. At 100 GH/s it’s still in the lottery mining territory for solo block hunting, but it delivers real SHA-256 hashrate from a device smaller than a thick wallet.

Key Features

• ~100 GH/s SHA-256 ASIC Hashrate: Real ASIC-based Bitcoin mining hashrate — significantly more powerful than microcontroller-based hobby miners. The BM1366 chip delivers genuine proof-of-work at a meaningful (though still hobbyist-scale) rate.
• BM1366 ASIC Chip: Uses the same chip found in the Bitmain Antminer S19 XP Pro series. Real ASIC technology at hobby scale — not a microcontroller approximation of SHA-256, but genuine hardware SHA-256 computation.
• Ultra-Low Power (~10–12W): Runs from any USB-C 5V power source — phone charger, laptop USB port, power bank. No electrical installation required.
• Open-Source Firmware: Runs open-source AxeOS or compatible firmware with a web-based interface for pool configuration, hashrate display, and remote monitoring.
• Wi-Fi Connectivity: Connects to your home Wi-Fi for pool connection and monitoring. No Ethernet cable required.
• Silent Operation: Compact form factor with passive or minimal cooling. Operates quietly — suitable for any home environment.
• Solo Mining Capable: Point at a solo mining pool (CK Solo Pool, etc.) for the lottery chance of solving a Bitcoin block and claiming the full block reward.

Technical Specifications

• Algorithm: SHA-256
• Supported Coins: Bitcoin (BTC) and SHA-256 cryptocurrencies
• ASIC Chip: BM1366
• Hashrate: ~100 GH/s
• Power Consumption: ~10–12W
• Input Power: USB-C 5V
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz)
• Firmware: AxeOS or compatible open-source firmware
• Cooling: Passive or minimal active cooling (near-silent)

Power & Installation Notes

The Nerdnos draws approximately 10–12W from USB-C 5V input. No electrical planning is required. Any standard USB-C wall charger (5V/2A or higher) is sufficient to power the Nerdnos continuously. South Africa’s 230V / 50Hz mains power is handled by any USB-C adapter — no transformer, no dedicated circuit, no installation work needed.

Load shedding is a complete non-issue at this power level. A 20,000 mAh USB power bank (approximately 72 Wh) can sustain the Nerdnos for approximately 6–7 hours — covering all standard South African load-shedding stages. Even a small 10,000 mAh power bank provides approximately 3 hours. The Nerdnos is fully load-shedding-immune with appropriate backup power.

Thermal management: the Nerdnos generates minimal heat and requires no special cooling infrastructure. Position it in a reasonably ventilated location (not sealed in an airtight container) and it will operate reliably at room temperature.

Electricity Cost Context — South Africa

At Eskom’s approximate residential reference tariff of R2.80/kWh, the monthly electricity cost for the Nerdnos is estimated as follows:

(11 ÷ 1,000) × 24 × 30 × 2.80 = approximately R22.18 per month

This is an operating cost estimate only — not a profitability projection. At approximately R22/month in electricity, the Nerdnos has negligible operating costs. Pool mining earnings at 100 GH/s will be extremely modest against the Bitcoin network’s current difficulty, but for solo mining lottery participation and educational use, R22/month is essentially zero cost.

Ideal Use Cases

• Solo Bitcoin mining with real ASIC hashrate: 100 GH/s is still a lottery at Bitcoin’s network difficulty, but unlike microcontroller miners, the Nerdnos uses genuine ASIC technology. Point at CK Solo Pool for the remote-but-real chance of a block reward.
• ASIC mining education: The Nerdnos bridges the gap between microcontroller hobby miners and commercial ASIC hardware. It’s an excellent educational platform for understanding ASIC-level SHA-256 mining.
• Load-shedding-immune Bitcoin presence: Run continuously through any load-shedding stage on a standard USB power bank — the cheapest way to keep Bitcoin mining active through South African power outages.
• Desk or office mining: Silent, compact, and drawing minimal power. The Nerdnos can sit on any desk or shelf, continuously contributing to Bitcoin’s proof-of-work at R22/month in electricity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Nerdnos need special electrical setup in South Africa?
No. It runs from any USB-C 5V phone charger. No dedicated circuit, no electrician, no electrical modifications needed.

What makes the Nerdnos different from the Nerdminer S19?
The Nerdminer S19 uses an ESP32 microcontroller for SHA-256 (156 KH/s). The Nerdnos uses a BM1366 ASIC chip (100 GH/s) — approximately 640,000× more hashrate at roughly 10× the power consumption. The Nerdnos is meaningfully more powerful for the solo mining lottery.

What pool should I use?
For solo mining, public-solo.ckpool.org is the most widely used public Bitcoin solo pool. Configure via the AxeOS web interface accessible from your home Wi-Fi network. For pool mining, any SHA-256 pool supporting Stratum V1 works.

Can it run during load shedding?
Yes — for hours on a standard power bank. Load shedding is not an operational concern for the Nerdnos at its power level.

Is the BM1366 the same chip as in commercial Bitmain miners?
Yes — the BM1366 is used in Bitmain’s Antminer S19 XP Pro series. The Nerdnos uses the same ASIC hardware, running at a lower clock speed for its power envelope. The SHA-256 hashing performed is identical in type to commercial ASIC mining.

What’s Included

• 1× Nerdnos 100Gh mining unit
• USB-C power cable
• Quick-start documentation