My friend built a house… heated by a bitcoin miner.
6 kW hydro Antminer heats the whole 140 m² (1500 ft²) home plus hot water for the bathroom.
He called this a “Bitcoin Shower Project” but I think it’s a Hashpunk Citadel 🔥
Cheers to Friday with Bitcoin Beer 🍻
https://blossom.primal.net/e269989ba7b8b30ce50e6b7f067e0f3f191a9940ed14504911907734048aceb6.mp4
Visited the LuckyMiner factory in China 🇨🇳
They don’t mess around.
And they also don’t care about open source.
Highlights and full Q&A 👇
🟠 PROFESSIONAL FACTORY
LuckyMiner R&D and assembly is co-located in a big electronics factory.
This factory has a full SMT line and professional-grade assembly shared with other major clients.
SMT = Surface Mount Technology, an automated process where machines place components directly onto a printed circuit board (PCB).
In short, this is how real electronics are made at scale.
And this SMT line is brand new and worth millions of dollars.
It’s a line for the big boys.
And many big mining brands we all know manufacture here.
LuckyMiner has their offices, R&D, assembly and testing upstairs.
Just a floor above the SMT line in the photo.
Daily production capacity ∼600 LuckyMiners.
But for larger orders they can access the huge assembly line downstairs.
This is as high tech as it gets.
Do you want to see more photos? 📸
---
🟠 Then I sat down with the CMO and CTO.
This Q&A could be titled:
FROM BITAXE CLONES TO PROPRIETARY DESIGNS
or also known as
WE CARE ABOUT MONEY, NOT FOSS
Here we go:
Q: Why is the firmware closed source despite using Bitaxe?
A: Our focus is speed and delivery. Open source creates upgrade confusion and more support issues for non-technical users. They prefer a locked-down, “stupid-proof” experience to avoid bad reviews, returns, and additional customer service workload.
Q: Will you open-source the firmware in the future?
A: They said “gradually,” but without any specific plan. They claimed LV05 firmware is already open and provided a GitHub link. For LV07 and LV08, they shared a third-party community-maintained link but said it’s not officially supported or maintained by them.
Q: Can users install AxeOS?
A: No, LV07 and LV08 hardware isn’t compatible.
Q: What’s the difference between LV07 and LV08?
A: LV07 has 2 chips and LV08 has 9. Both are proprietary hardware, no longer Bitaxe clones.
Q: Will you collaborate with OSMU?
A: We are open in principle, but language and cultural barriers make it hard. We’re not actively doing it.
Responses became vague or hesitant when pressed further.
Q: How does LV07/08 performance compare to Bitaxe?
A: They said it’s hard to compare because LV07 and LV08 are different designs. There's no universal benchmark. But they emphasized that their production quality is higher and pointed to their professional factory setup, which also produces hardware for mainstream mining brands.
Q: What sets you apart from typical Chinese hardware?
A: They emphasized better quality, professional assembly or injection-molded casings (unlike Bitaxe which is 3D printed). They said they care about building a good brand reputation in Asia to minimize support problems or negative reviews.
Q: What’s your quality control process?
A: Didn’t share specifics, just said it’s a priority. Their facilities back this up with a dedicated 300 units testing bench, professional factory resources, and in-house assembly.
Q: What caused the LV08 shipping pause?
A: They said the reliability wasn’t ideal and they decided to redesign the board before continuing full production.
Q: Why can’t firmware be updated via GUI?
A: Most users aren’t technical. Allowing GUI updates increases returns and bad reviews. They prefer a locked-down or “stupid-proof” experience.
Q: Will you support other algos like Kaspa?
A: No plans now but we’re watching trends. Recently we had some talks with ETC miner companies. But we will continue to release more consumer oriented products this year.
Q: Any plans for a budget Ember One-style miner?
A: We don’t know what that is.
Q: What’s an ideal miner form factor and specs?
A: Depends on market segment. There is no one model which would fit all mining use cases.
---
The goal here is not to defend them.
After all, they greeted me with a Braiins Mini Miner clone.
But it’s interesting to see their ops and try to understand their mentality.
However, we won’t get more than this.
I pressed, followed up when answers were vague, tried from different angles.
Nothing helped.
They know what I’m asking and they want to keep their face.
On the other hand the tour was fascinating and they seem like nice guys to talk over lunch.
🟠 TLDR:
Open source is a liability to them.
Making quick money is everything.
Sharing makes competitors move faster.
…
There is nothing else to add to this story.
Visited MicroBT HQ in Shenzhen 🇨🇳
First reaction to the list of community questions: “Is this industrial espionage?”
In China, everyone’s a competitor and the default is: SHARE NOTHING. But I got them talking a bit, Q&A soon.
Vegas was wild… but Braiins didn’t (and won’t) sponsor.
My highlights from the world’s biggest bitcoin conference 👇
🔶 VIBE IS CHANGING
The conference was massive but felt very different.
As Bob Burnett put it: the suits are here.
Mainstream, crypto influencers, even Hollywood actors.
The underground punk days are over.
It’s not bad, just different.
And it’s not going back.
🔶 NO BOOTH, NO REGRETS
First time in years we at Braiins didn’t sponsor.
Why?
Because more retail foot traffic doesn’t help me when most people are asking “so… what’s bitcoin mining?”
Same booth, same team but only way more retail walkups asking basic stuff.
Not worth the budget.
Not for a b2b mining software company like Braiins.
So we just bought tickets and mingled.
Best decision ever.
🔶 BOOTH HIGHLIGHT
I met a company called Ferveret.
Never heard of them before.
They’re doing modular 2-phase immersion so each miner is in its own sealed pod.
Smart solution to the usual full-container downtime problem.
I would’ve missed it if I was stuck in a booth explaining what mining is.
Interesting design!
🔶 SIDE MISSIONS > MAIN CONFERENCE
Most value happens outside the venue.
Dinners, drinks or off-road racing tournament with Cholla (photo of Gideon throwing my inflatable and Brad mid car jump).
The best business meeting ever.
Small side events and curated guest lists.
That equals actual business.
Will focus on that more moving forward.
Few hours at the conf is enough.
🔶 BITCOIN GOLF TOURNAMENT
Best side event of the week?
Samara-sponsored golf tournament by Bitcoin Sport Network.
They are doing it right:
Curated guest list + fun activities = the best networking.
Brains books and beers were there too 🍻
Looking forward to the next one.
BSN guys are the best event organizers.
🔶 WE ARE DONE SPONSORING
We’re cutting way back on booth sponsorships.
Conferences bring more retail, but that’s not our target.
Side events + direct meetings = better vibes and better ROI.
Bye bye conference sponsorships.
Hello more marketing budget!
🔶 CITY CHOICE MATTERS
Vegas was perfect.
15-min Uber ride for everything.
Quality hotels, activities, parties, shows.
Everything in one place.
Keep Vegas for next year, then give us a new city to explore (not Miami or I’m out).
Thank you Vegas, you delivered 🫡
Got questions for WhatsMiner?
I’m visiting their HQ in China next week and I’ll ask anything you drop below 👇
We at Braiins never supported bigger blocks, we were against BCH and we supported Segwit. So no, your assumption is not correct.
That being said, I will support whatever the general consensus of noderunners and miners will be in the distant future.
Bitcoin can be used however you see fit. At Braiins we like to collateralize and keep on our balance sheet. That’s what the book explores.
Never sell your bitcoin. Not even for Philly’s finest cheesesteak.
Comment NEVER SELL for a chance to win the book 🔥
https://blossom.primal.net/c5656345f2c715f668110f366b1a5784f0188d7537c2552449e1da990a013285.mp4
Texas.
I’m so back.
Will always release new episodes on YouTube first so subscribe!
Let me know what we can improve in future episodes and enjoy: https://youtu.be/Q_BigzY7liU?si=o9Dgt0UwQgwqGmR4
Texas oilfield bitcoin.
LIVE ON YOUTUBE 🔥
Link you know where 👇
Two open-source bitcoin mining control boards now exist.
But why two? 🤔👇
We open sourced BCB100 in January.
Then 256 Foundation announced their own FOSS board project.
I was confused.
Why not build on top of ours?
They said their goals were different.
That it’s easier to start from scratch…
And now that we’ve seen more details,
IT MAKES SENSE.
Two boards. Two directions.
BCB100 (by Braiins)
🟠 Built for industrial-scale uptime
🟠 Plug-and-play with any S19 miner
🟠 Tested in harsh real-world environments
🟠 Easily adaptable for new industrial models (e.g. swap fan connectors for S21 series)
Libre Board (by 256 Foundation)
🔸 Built for home mining and DIY projects
🔸 Based on Raspberry Pi Compute Module (CM), modular and easy to expand
🔸 USB-C and WiFi support, great for small home setups
🔸 Ideal for tinkerers building heaters, automation, or custom rigs
🔸 Not built for high-density or industrial use
The design focus is what separates them.
Adapting Libre for industrial use is possible but not practical.
Adapting BCB100 for new industrial use cases is faster and requires fewer changes.
TWO BOARDS. TWO USE CASES.
BOTH OPEN 🔥
Choose what fits.
Let’s build!
I’m visiting the Lucky Miner factory in China this week.
Got any questions or messages for the guy behind this closed-source Bitaxe clone? I’ll report back 👇
I’m still fat.
Lost some weight by walking more, but it’s not enough. Target: 100 push-ups a day. Did 10 yesterday and everything hurts.
Making it public so I can’t slack. Update in a month!
Six years ago, I quit my fiat job.
Today I was flying a drone inside a mining container factory in China, shooting another behind-the-scenes video.
Thanks, bitcoin 🤘
Historic moment in bitcoin mining:
Bitdeer enters the hardware game.
Here’s additional context based on comments from my previous post 👇
1️⃣ Machine reliability
2️⃣ Production
3️⃣ Tariffs
4️⃣ BTDR stock
The excitement for Sealminer A2 has been strong.
Some resellers claim they sold 15% of their stock in the first 24 hours.
That’s a great start.
But…
In mining, early hype means nothing if the machines don’t survive long-term or if production can’t scale.
1️⃣ MACHINE RELIABILITY
Let’s remember: no one outside Bitdeer has them running yet.
Bitcoin miners have been burned before. Many times.
So I highly recommend caution.
Buy some units. Let them run.
Wait to scale until the machines are battle-tested in harsh conditions for long enough.
We still know very little about these machines or their software.
And everything looks good on paper.
2️⃣ ON-TIME VOLUME PRODUCTION
Manufacturing excellence is the other side of the coin.
Bitdeer still has to prove it can ship on time and in bulk.
They’ve already had one round of delays and reallocated units.
They’re the only bitcoin hardware manufacturer I’ve seen refund preorders.
Not a great start.
Deliveries are now rolling, but a few weeks behind schedule.
They also canceled their original hydro unit and jumped straight to the “Pro” hydro version, which should ship in June.
So yes, some early operational hiccups.
Caution is in place.
(immersion: no information about those models yet)
3️⃣ TARIFFS
Chinese-made miners are OK right now.
They’re classified as computers, so duties are manageable.
But Vietnam has an edge.
Lower base tariffs and better US trade relations = fewer risks.
That’s why Vietnam matters.
Bitmain does the same by manufacturing some models in Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia.
Bitdeer adding Vietnam contributes to global decentralization of hardware production.
This is huge.
This part of the story is bigger than most think.
MOQs: most units are sold to large resellers, who then sell to retail. So contact your supplier (like us at Braiins Store) for more info.
4️⃣ BTDR STOCK
Yes, Bitdeer is its own biggest client.
They mine with their machines first.
Same as Bitmain, but Bitmain isn’t publicly traded.
Extra points for BTDR.
That also gives Bitdeer an edge over other US public miners who don’t make their own hardware and rely on Chinese manufacturers.
This introduces a whole new player into the public miners race.
I’ll be watching BTDR’s performance closely.
EXCITING TIMES 🔥
This is just the beginning.
I’m not surprised others are just as hyped as I am.
We’ll publish a teardown soon and share what we learn.
Follow me so you don’t miss it.
🦭🦭🦭
Bitmain ruled for a decade. The monopoly ends today.
Bitdeer's Sealminer A2 by is now shipping.
This company was born inside Bitmain, is backed by Tether, and trades on NASDAQ 🇺🇸.
Here’s the full story—and why it matters 👇
Bitmain has dominated bitcoin mining hardware since 2013 with Antminers.
Founded by Jihan Wu and Micree Zhan, they built an empire—always the number one, holding 80% of the market to this day.
No one comes close.
But then came internal politics.
Around 2019, the two founders started fighting for power.
Classic case of “two roosters in one room.”
By 2021, it ended with Jihan stepping down—taking some assets and business units with him.
That’s how Bitdeer was born.
A FORK OF BITMAIN.
At first, Bitdeer focused on self mining, hosting, and cloud mining.
Gigantic mining operations.
Then in 2023, they went public on NASDAQ as BTDR.
New capital for big plans.
In 2024, Bitdeer announced they’d start building miners—including their own ASIC chips.
So they acquired DesiweMiner (remember them?)
A Chinese bitcoin ASIC R&D team.
At the end of 2024, they promised their first flagship miner: the A2.
Supposed to ship in Q1 this year.
Slight delays, but…
TODAY IT BECAME REAL.
The Sealminer A2 is now shipping worldwide.
🔶 Hashrate: 220–240T
🔶 Power: 3630–3960W
🔶 Efficiency: 16.5 J/T
✅ Made in Vietnam—not China
✅ In stock—hundreds available now
Prices are great and tariffs are low—it qualifies as a “computer,” so it’s import-friendly.
Let us know if you want to try a few units, we now sell mini hardware too at Braiins.
But there’s more to the story…
TETHER INVESTED $150M.
And got ~25% of Bitdeer.
Remember that Tether made $13B profit in 2024.
So we will see their influence grow across the entire bitcoin space.
They’re the deepest pockets in the space—printing profits like no one else.
So yeah... mining power dynamics are shifting.
🟠 Bitdeer is here with cash and experience.
🟠 Tether is buying influence right and left.
🟠 BTDR is a real contender with a real product.
So WEN Braiins OS for 🦭?
We just ordered a few A2 units for testing.
We’ll take them apart, benchmark them, and see what’s under the hood.
Can we port Braiins OS to them?
Maybe.
We’ll report back soon.
Until then—watch this space.
Because...
Hardware is hard. But Bitdeer isn’t playing around.
And more competition is always a good thing ⚡
