Choosing a Mining Pool

For a Bitaxe, the technical difference between pools is minimal: the stratum protocol is the same everywhere. The real differences are philosophy, payout structure, and what the pool does with your hash power.

What a Pool Actually Does

When you connect your Bitaxe to a pool, the pool's stratum server sends you work (a block template to hash). You submit results. When the pool collectively finds a valid block, it distributes the reward among contributors proportionally.

For a solo pool, if your miner finds the valid block solution, the full reward goes to you. The pool just routes your work and handles the Bitcoin network connection.

The Main Options for Bitaxe Miners

web.solo-pool.io. Our Recommendation

Affiliated with the OCEAN/OSMU community, web.solo-pool.io is designed for small solo miners. It's the pool used and recommended by much of the open-source mining community.

• Mode: Solo, full block reward if you find it
• Setup: Stratum URL: web.solo-pool.io | User: your Bitcoin address | Password: x
• Why we recommend it: Aligned with open-source and decentralised mining values

solo.ckpool.org

CKPool's solo pool has been running since 2014, one of the longest-standing solo pools in existence.

• Mode: Solo
• Setup: Stratum URL: solo.ckpool.org:3333 | User: your Bitcoin address | Password: x
• Why use it: Reliable, proven, long track record. A solid alternative.

Ocean Pool (ocean.xyz)

Ocean uses TIDES: a payout mechanism designed to be more transparent and decentralised. Miners can select their own transaction templates via the DATUM protocol.

• Mode: Pool (TIDES payout)
• Why use it: Values-aligned pool mining, transparent, decentralised transaction selection

Braiins Pool (formerly Slush Pool)

The oldest Bitcoin mining pool still operating, now run by Braiins. Professional, well-maintained, excellent analytics.

• Mode: Pool (FPPS payout)
• Track record: Operating since 2010
• Note: Commercial entity, not open-source aligned

Honest Summary for Bitaxe Owners

• Financial difference between pools is essentially zero for a single Bitaxe
• Solo pools (web.solo-pool.io, ckpool) give you a shot at the full 3.125 BTC jackpot
• Pool mining (Ocean, Braiins) gives tiny, regular payouts
• The choice is mostly philosophy and what you want to monitor

We use and recommend web.solo-pool.io; it's where we point our own miners and where the open-source community congregates.

What to Enter in AxeOS

You can switch pools any time, just update settings in AxeOS and save. The Bitaxe reconnects within seconds.