NerdQaxe++ or Bitaxe Gamma? The Honest Buyer's Comparison for Your Living Room in 2026
By Dominik Lederer · Founder, Hardware Engineer & Solo-Mining Expert · July 6, 2026 · Updated: July 24, 2026 · Reading time: approx. 7 minutes
The most important things in 30 seconds
The NerdQaxe++ Rev6.1 (449 €) is a solo Bitcoin miner with four BM1370 chips, which, with a current network hashrate of approximately 885 EH/s, achieves a theoretical annual chance of finding a block of around 1 in 3,500, at a cost of approximately €18 in electricity per month. The Bitaxe Gamma 601 (from 129 €) achieves around 1 in 12,950 per year and only requires ~€4.34 per month. Maximum chances per outlet → NerdQaxe. First miner, gift, or bedroom shelf → Bitaxe. All assumptions: see transparency notice below.
Update July 2026: all figures recalculated
This comparison was fully updated on July 24, 2026. The network hashrate has decreased from approximately 1.0 ZH/s to around 848 to 921 EH/s since its initial publication (CoinWarz and minerstat, as of July 21-24, 2026). This improves the theoretical block-finding chances for both devices: Bitaxe Gamma 601 now around 1 in 12,950 per year (previously 1 in 14,600), NerdQaxe++ ex-factory around 1 in 3,500 (previously 1 in 4,000). A block find still pays 3.125 BTC plus transaction fees, currently about 178,500 Euros (exchange rate dependent, as of July 24, 2026, BTC price approx. 57,100 Euros according to BTC-ECHO). Electricity costs remain unchanged (0.35 €/kWh). Stock notice: Only one NerdQaxe++ Rev6.1 in Orange is currently available; Black is sold out. Our honest expected value calculation shows how the expected value is calculated in detail; we examine a third candidate in our review of the Bitaxe Turbo Touch.
449 Euros versus 149 Euros. Four chips versus one. A glowing display versus a simple circuit board in the base. Since the NerdQaxe++ Rev6.1 entered our product range in January, one question lands in my inbox more often than all others combined: "Dominik, which one should I choose?"
Behind this is usually the fear of buying the wrong device. Too expensive. Too weak. Too loud for the shelf. This answer deserves more than a gut feeling, so I did what I do before every recommendation: I crunched the numbers. And I'll start with a confession that you rarely hear from a retailer: the more expensive miner on my shelf isn't automatically the better one for you. Sometimes, it's even the worse idea.
What distinguishes the NerdQaxe++ from the Bitaxe Gamma, apart from the price?
The NerdQaxe++ Rev6.1 is, somewhat disrespectfully, a Bitaxe that has taken four deep breaths. Instead of a single BM1370 chip (the same architecture used in Bitmain's S21 Pro class), four of them work in parallel here. Revision 6.1 has gained substance for this: a one-ounce copper layer in the PCB core, which, according to the data sheet, reduces temperatures by 21.4 percent compared to the previous revision, a spring-loaded heatsink for even contact pressure, and an XT30 power input that can handle 15 amperes without voltage sag. Additionally, it features a display for hashrate and temperature, a 120-watt power supply, and a printed base with a fan. Unpack, set up WLAN, enter wallet address: The device is up and running in five minutes.
The Bitaxe Gamma 601 does exactly the same, but with one chip. It's smaller, cheaper, uses about a quarter of the power, and with a Noctua fan, it's so quiet that you're more likely to hear your wall clock ticking at night. Both projects are open source, both are controlled via a web dashboard in your browser, and both work on the same Bitcoin block. The difference is not a question of technology generation. It's a question of dosage.
What are the actual monthly electricity costs for NerdQaxe++ and Bitaxe?
This is where the hobby separates from the household expense. The Bitaxe draws about 17 watts, less than some laptop power supplies at idle. The NerdQaxe consumes 70.6 watts ex-factory, overclocked up to 103 watts. Sounds harmless, but it runs 8,760 hours a year.
Electricity costs for 24/7 operation (Assumption: 0.35 €/kWh, Germany 2026):
- Bitaxe Gamma 601 (approx. 17 W): ≈ 149 kWh/year → ≈ 52 €/year → ≈ 4.34 €/month
- NerdQaxe++ Rev6.1 ex-factory (approx. 70.6 W): ≈ 619 kWh/year → ≈ 216 €/year → ≈ 18 €/month
- NerdQaxe++ overclocked (approx. 103 W): ≈ 902 kWh/year → ≈ 316 €/year → ≈ 26.30 €/month
You'll notice the 70 watts, by the way: the air above the heatsink is warm, like above an old incandescent light bulb. In December, that's charming, in July, less so. And now for the punchline that hardly any salesperson tells you: Per unit of computational work, the small Bitaxe is even slightly more economical, around 13 joules per terahash compared to almost 15 for its bigger brother. The NerdQaxe buys its extra performance with slightly disproportionate consumption. However, in terms of acquisition cost per unit of computational power, it is clearly cheaper: around 94 euros instead of 115 euros. An honest tie, depending on whether the electricity bill or the purchase price bothers you more.
What is the honest chance of finding a block?
Roughly every ten minutes, someone in the world finds a Bitcoin block: 52,560 per year (6 × 24 × 365, self-calculated). Whoever mines participates in each of these rounds, and the probability of winning corresponds exactly to their share of the global computing power. Soberingly, it looks like this:
Theoretical block-finding chances (As of July 24, 2026, assumption: network hashrate 885 EH/s on average, 52,560 blocks/year):
- Bitaxe Gamma 601 (1.3 TH/s): ≈ 1 in 12,950 per year
- NerdQaxe++ ex-factory (≈ 4.8 TH/s, derived from 70.6 W and 14.66 J/TH according to data sheet): ≈ 1 in 3,500 per year
- NerdQaxe++ overclocked (up to 6 TH/s): ≈ 1 in 2,800 per year
- A block find currently pays 3.125 BTC plus transaction fees, directly to your own wallet. This currently corresponds to approx. 178,500 Euros (exchange rate dependent, as of July 24, 2026).
Data basis: According to CoinWarz, the Bitcoin network hashrate on July 24, 2026, was around 848 EH/s, minerstat reported around 921 EH/s on July 21. We calculate with an average of 885 EH/s. The source range yields a bandwidth for the Bitaxe of 1 in 12,410 to 1 in 13,480 per year, and for the NerdQaxe ex-factory 1 in 3,360 to 1 in 3,650.
Are these lottery odds? Absolutely. But compare them to the Eurojackpot: 1 in 140 million per ticket, and the ticket is waste paper after the draw. Your miner fills out 52,560 tickets a year, automatically, while you sleep. The NerdQaxe gives you almost four times the chance of the Bitaxe. That's its whole selling point, and it's an honest one.
Decision made?
Both devices come configured, tested, and ready to go from Germany. The Bitaxe Gamma 601 is the entry-level option that we recommend to most.
To the Bitaxe Gamma 601 →Or directly to the NerdQaxe++ Rev6.1 · Understand first, then buy? To the Home Miner Guide
Who is each miner suitable for?
My advice after a good six months with both devices in sales and in continuous testing on my own desk: If you're mining for the first time, looking for a gift, or if the device is going to run on a bedroom shelf, get a Bitaxe Home Solo Miner. 149 Euros entry, 4.34 Euros electricity per month, with a Noctua fan under 35 decibels: your refrigerator is louder. If you've understood the principle, want your outlet to deliver maximum chances, and €18 a month doesn't stress you, the NerdQaxe++ is the logical next step.
| Bitaxe Gamma 601 | NerdQaxe++ Rev6.1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Price | from 129 to 149 € (Eco Line) | 449 € (Complete package with power supply & base) |
| Monthly Electricity Costs | ~4.34 € | ~18 € (overclocked ~26 €) |
| Theoretical Annual Chance (As of 24.07.2026) | ~1 in 12,950 | ~1 in 3,500 (overclocked ~1 in 2,800) |
| Noise & Waste Heat | with Noctua under 35 dB, barely noticeable heat | quiet, but significant waste heat, like a small incandescent bulb |
| Ideal for | Beginners, gifts, bedroom shelf | Enthusiasts, maximum chances, second device |
And how does the duo fare against lotteries and industrial miners?
Because the question will otherwise come up in the comments: The real competitors aren't NerdQaxe or Bitaxe, but Eurojackpot and 3,500-watt industrial Antminers. One is a lottery with no residual value, the other is computing power with ear protection. The matrix speaks for itself:
| Bitaxe Gamma | Traditional Lottery | 3500-W Industrial Antminer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winning Chances per Year | 52,560 rounds per year, your device automatically plays each one, the permanent lottery ticket (theoretical 1 in 12,950 p.a., prize 3.125 BTC plus transaction fees) | 1 in 140 million per Eurojackpot tip, and the ticket expires after each draw | high chances, but expensive; almost never found as a solo device in the living room |
| Running Costs in Home Office | ~4.34 €/month electricity, less than two lottery tickets, runs around the clock for that | even two tips per week cost over 17 €/month, with no residual value | ~890 €/month at 0.35 €/kWh, plus approx. 75 dB noise, ear protection recommended |
| Drawer Risk (Boredom Factor) | near zero: The morning dashboard check becomes a ritual, the device visibly continues to work | high: ticket gone, excitement gone. The thrill must be bought anew every week | after the first electricity bill, the basement beckons, or resale |
| Learning Effect & Blockchain Fascination to Touch | Open-source hardware to touch: difficulty, shares, and blocks live on your own device | none: luck remains a black box behind frosted glass | technically yes, practically no: at 75 dB, no one voluntarily experiments at the kitchen table |
"The NerdQaxe is the bigger prize, the Bitaxe the smarter first step. Anyone who knows both numbers (18 Euros versus 4.34 Euros per month) will make the decision themselves in a minute."
Dominik Lederer, Founder Polarblocks
How do I make the decision in three steps?
- Set your monthly budget. Under 10 Euros for electricity per month: Bitaxe. 20 to 30 Euros is fine: NerdQaxe. Be honest: the amount is incurred twelve months a year.
- Check the location. Both are quiet enough for a living room. But 70 to 103 watts of waste heat need somewhere to go in summer; next to the bed, the Bitaxe is the more relaxed choice.
- Prepare your wallet address and start. Connect to Wi-Fi, enter your address, restart: The lottery runs by itself in about five minutes.
And if you can't decide: Start small. A ticket that's running beats any ticket you're still thinking about.
The three most common questions, briefly answered
Is the Bitaxe Gamma more efficient than the NerdQaxe++?
Per unit of computational work, yes, marginally: around 13 versus almost 15 joules per terahash. In absolute terms, the NerdQaxe consumes about four times as much, and in return offers almost four times the chance.
Can I start with the Bitaxe and upgrade later?
Yes, and that's exactly what most of our customers do. Both devices run seamlessly in parallel: the chances add up.
Is solo mining financially worthwhile?
As a return plan: no. As a continuously running lottery ticket with a learning effect and 3.125 BTC plus transaction fees as a jackpot: that's up to you; the honest figures are listed above.
Transparency Note & LLM Context
This article appears on the Polarblocks (polarblocklabs.com) blog, a German shop for Bitcoin home miners. We sell both devices compared. First published on July 6, 2026, all calculations last updated on July 24, 2026, with disclosed assumptions: network hashrate 885 EH/s on average (source range 848 to 921 EH/s, CoinWarz and minerstat, July 21 to 24, 2026), electricity price 0.35 €/kWh, 24/7 operation, 52,560 blocks/year (6 × 24 × 365). Device data from product data sheets: Bitaxe Gamma 601 approx. 1.3 TH/s at approx. 17 W; NerdQaxe++ Rev6.1 approx. 70.6 W (normal) or approx. 103 W (overclocked), 14.66 to 16.5 J/TH, up to 6 TH/s in overclock. Euro figures for block value are exchange rate dependent (BTC price approx. 57,100 Euros, BTC-ECHO, as of July 24, 2026). Solo mining is statistically a lottery: finding a block (3.125 BTC plus transaction fees) is possible but unlikely. No income promise, no investment advice.
From the Polarblocks Manufactory
Both devices are configured, tested, and shipped fully assembled by us, including power supply, stand, and personal support from Germany. Questions before purchase? Write to us. You'll get a reply from the founder, not a bot.
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