Setting up the NerdNOS 2026: a guide in 8 minutes

The NerdNOS is a solo bitcoin miner with a real ASIC chip, compact enough for a desk and quiet enough for a living room. This guide takes you through the current setup in 7 steps using the free Hashlink app: from plugging it in to mining. Total time: around 5 minutes. All you need is your phone, no cable to a PC, no terminal, no prior knowledge.

Short answer · setup in 5 steps

Plug the NerdNOS in and wait until the display shows Setup via Hashlink App or WiFi with a QR code. Scan the QR code, install and open the Hashlink app, choose Add device → BLE Setup and tap the NerdNOS-… entry. Then enter your 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and replace the pre-filled test address with your own bitcoin address, so that any reward lands in your wallet. Tap Apply Configuration, the device restarts and starts mining on its own.

See the NerdNOS in the shop

Do this first · takes 10 minutes

You need a bitcoin address of your own

Without your own bitcoin address there is no point finishing the setup, because that field is exactly where 3.125 BTC (around €195,000) would go if you found a block. Do not have one yet? At Finst you get a free SegWit receiving address (bc1q…) in under 10 minutes, EU-regulated out of the Netherlands, without having to buy any bitcoin.

Get a bitcoin address at Finst Step-by-step guide

Affiliate link · no extra cost to you. Any wallet of your own works too (Sparrow, BlueWallet, Trezor). Just do not use an exchange deposit address.

steps

~5 min

via the app

pool fee

€99

complete set

What you need (2-minute check)

The NerdNOS complete set with the 5 V adapter and USB-C cable in the box
A phone with the free Hashlink app and Bluetooth switched on, for the setup
2.4 GHz Wi-Fi in range (the NerdNOS physically does not support 5 GHz Wi-Fi, FritzBox guide · Wi-Fi troubleshooting)
A bitcoin address of your own (SegWit recommended, see below or Finst)

The setup in 7 steps

Plug the NerdNOS in and wait
Connect the supplied USB-C cable to the NerdNOS and plug the adapter into a socket. The fan spins briefly and the display shows the boot screen first. After 15 to 30 seconds the setup screen appears with the line Setup via Hashlink App or WiFi, a QR code and the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi symbols. The device is now in setup mode.

The setup screen on the NerdNOS: "Setup via Hashlink App or WiFi" with a QR code.
Install the Hashlink app
Scan the QR code on the display with your phone camera and it takes you straight to the Hashlink app in the store. Alternatively, search for Hashlink in the App Store (iPhone) or Play Store (Android). The app is free and the free plan covers up to 4 devices, which is plenty for one NerdNOS indefinitely.

The Hashlink app in the App Store, free of charge.
Open the app and tap "Add device"
On first launch the list is empty ("No devices"). Tap Add device (or the + in the top right). Make sure Bluetooth is switched on on your phone.

First launch: tap "Add device".
Connection method: choose BLE Setup
For the first setup you choose BLE Setup (connect over Bluetooth) and tap SETUP. Above it sits "Network scan", which you only need later, once the NerdNOS is already on your Wi-Fi (see alternatives).

Choose the connection method: "BLE Setup" for the first run.
Select the NerdNOS over Bluetooth
The app searches for devices in setup mode and lists your miner as NerdNOS-XXXX (the four characters differ per device). Tap it to connect. If nothing appears: unplug the NerdNOS briefly, let it restart and search again, because Bluetooth is only active on the setup screen.

The NerdNOS appears as "NerdNOS-…" in the BLE list.
Enter Wi-Fi and replace the bitcoin address, the step that matters most
You now see two blocks. Under WIFI CONFIGURATION you enter your home Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz) and its password. Under POOL CONFIGURATION the pool (public-pool.io) and port are already filled in, and you leave those alone.

Important: enter your own bitcoin address The third field of the pool configuration ships with a bitcoin address already in it, and that is only a placeholder for testing. Replace it with your own SegWit address (bc1q…) so that any block reward lands in your wallet. Delete the pre-filled entry completely and paste your address in. The worker field (x in the screenshot) can stay as it is or be given a name.

Enter the Wi-Fi, then replace the pre-filled address with your own. Then "Apply Configuration".

To finish, tap Apply Configuration. The NerdNOS saves everything and restarts automatically.
Done, mining is running
After the restart the NerdNOS connects to your Wi-Fi and to public-pool.io. In the Hashlink app it shows up under "All miners" with a green dot (online), a live hash rate (0.09 TH/s = 90 GH/s, for example), chip temperature and accepted shares. As soon as the first shares are counted you are live on the bitcoin network. Congratulations.

Dashboard: NerdNOS online, live hash rate, temperature and shares at a glance.

Tip: double your block chance, pair it with a Nerdminer V2 The Nerdminer V2 is silent, draws under 1 watt and runs 24/7 alongside. Pointed at the same bitcoin address, the block chances add up, cleanly separated by worker name in the app. Two devices mining towards the same goal. See the Nerdminer V2.

Alternatives to the BLE setup

The Bluetooth route above is the simplest. There are two further routes depending on your situation:

The NerdNOS is already on Wi-Fi, add it by network scan

If your NerdNOS is already running (after a BLE setup from another phone, say) and you only want to add it to the app overview: in Add device choose Network scan → SCAN at the top. The app searches your Wi-Fi and finds the NerdNOS along with its IP address (192.168.2.55, for instance). Tap it, choose Add Selected Device and confirm with Add in the dialog. Important: the phone and the NerdNOS must be on the same Wi-Fi.

The Hashlink network scanner finding the NerdNOS on the Wi-Fi

The network scan finds the NerdNOS by IP.

Hashlink network scanner confirmation to add the device

Confirm with "Add".

Without the app: the classic Wi-Fi setup in a browser

The NerdNOS can also be set up entirely without the app (the display says "or WiFi"). Connect your phone or laptop to the NerdMinerAP network (password MineYourCoins). A browser window usually opens by itself, and if not, go to 192.168.4.1. Choose Configure WiFi, enter your home Wi-Fi and its password and scroll down to the pool fields. The same rule applies here: delete the pre-filled bitcoin address completely and enter your own SegWit address (bc1q…), then hit Save. The rest works identically.

Which bitcoin addresses work

Format	Example prefix	NerdNOS
SegWit (Bech32), recommended	`bc1q…`	✓ works
Legacy	`1…`	✓ works
P2SH / nested SegWit	`3…`	✓ works
Taproot	`bc1p…`	✗ rejected

The OSMU wiki confirms it: taproot addresses (bc1p…) are not processed correctly by the standard public pool. Use SegWit (bc1q…), the bitcoin standard since 2017 and produced by every modern wallet. Suitable wallets: Finst (onboarding in 10 minutes, EU-regulated), Sparrow (desktop, open source), BlueWallet (mobile), Trezor or Coldcard (hardware). Important: do not use an exchange deposit address, because some exchanges flag mining income and freeze accounts.

Understanding hash rate: why 90 sometimes and 400 at others?

The BM1397 ASIC in the NerdNOS is throttled to about 8 W so it stays quiet and cool. The resulting hash rate is not constant, and it varies for three reasons:

Silicon lottery: every BM1397 chip leaves the factory with marginally different characteristics. Some run stably at 200+ GH/s even at a low frequency, others need more voltage.
Frequency setting: the stock firmware runs a conservative default frequency. You can adjust it in the local web dashboard, where a higher frequency means more hash rate but also more power and heat.
Temperature: the chip throttles itself when it gets too hot (thermal throttling). If your NerdNOS sits in the sun or boxed into a cupboard, it will dial the hash rate down.

Source	Figure	Condition
OSMU wiki (official)	150–200 GH/s	stock, throttled
Community figure	80–110 GH/s	heavily throttled, low frequency
BitMiner24 (our own measurement)	180–400 GH/s	14-day test, default frequency
BM1397 chip (theoretical)	up to 400 GH/s	maximum frequency, high draw

In practice that means: do not expect a constant. The app shows a live hash rate that moves minute by minute. What matters is the average over hours. A NerdNOS averaging 250 GH/s is just as normal as one at 350 GH/s, and that is hardware variance, not a fault. Brief drops between shares are normal, because the pool pauses briefly when it sends a new job. Only regular drops to 0 GH/s lasting several minutes are a warning sign, and then it is usually a weak power supply or a poor USB-C cable (see troubleshooting).

Monitoring your mining: app, local dashboard, pool

There are three ways to follow along:

The Hashlink app (most convenient): live hash rate, temperature, shares and online status of every device at a glance, including while you are out.
The local web dashboard on your home network: the router gives the NerdNOS an IP (192.168.2.55, say, which you can see in the app or in your router's device list). Opening that IP in a browser gives you the full dashboard with the frequency setting and the firmware update option. Bookmark that IP.
The public pool dashboard from anywhere: https://web.public-pool.io/#/app/YOUR_BITCOIN_ADDRESS shows workers, shares per hour, average hash rate and your best difficulty.

Changing pool (optional)

public-pool.io is a good default: free, transparent, no account needed and a decent web dashboard. You can change the pool in the app or in the local web dashboard. The alternatives:

Pool	Stratum URL	Port	Notes
Public Pool (default)	`public-pool.io`	pre-filled	0% fee · best web dashboard
Solo CKPool	`solo.ckpool.org`	3333	0% fee · established solo community
Ocean	`mine.ocean.xyz`	3334	pay-per-share (not pure solo)

For solo mining, public-pool.io or solo.ckpool.org is the right choice. Ocean is pool mining (regular tiny payouts) and only fits if the block chance matters less to you than a steady trickle. More background: solo mining vs pool mining.

Updating the firmware (later on)

The NerdNOS ships with current firmware. You can install updates at any time through the local web dashboard, with no software, no USB flashing and no terminal. Detailed instructions including recovery mode: firmware update guide 2026.

Mesh routers (FritzBox, Speedport, Magenta) If your router broadcasts 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz under the same name, the NerdNOS may see the network but fail to connect. The fix: set up a separate 2.4 GHz SSID in the router menu ("FritzBox-24", for example) and enter only that one. Detailed instructions: FritzBox setup.

Troubleshooting: the most common problems

The NerdNOS does not appear in the app (BLE)

Cause: Bluetooth is off on the phone, the device is not on the setup screen, or it has already been configured. Fix: switch Bluetooth on. Unplug the NerdNOS for 10 seconds and let it restart, then wait for the setup screen (Setup via Hashlink App or WiFi), because Bluetooth is only active then. Search again in the app afterwards.

The Wi-Fi is not accepted, the device will not connect

Most common cause: a 5 GHz network was entered, or mesh mode with an identical SSID. The NerdNOS can only do 2.4 GHz. Fix: set up a separate 2.4 GHz network with a distinct name in your router ("FritzBox-24", for example) and enter that one in the app. FritzBox guide · Wi-Fi troubleshooting.

The hash rate swings wildly or drops to 0 regularly

Most common cause: the power supply is too weak or the USB-C cable is not up to it. (1) Try a different adapter, ideally the one in the box. Phone chargers are often too weak for 8 W of continuous load. (2) Swap the USB-C cable, preferably for a thicker one rated for power delivery. (3) Check the power strip. (4) Reset the frequency in the web dashboard to default if you raised it.

The app shows the device offline or "Pool disconnected"

Cause: the Wi-Fi dropped briefly, the pool server is unreachable (DNS, firewall) or there is a typo in the pool URL. Fix: check the pool URL exactly: public-pool.io (without stratum+tcp:// in front, the firmware adds that itself). Restart the router. If it persists, switch DNS to 8.8.8.8 or 1.1.1.1.

A bc1p… bitcoin address is rejected

Cause: taproot addresses are not processed correctly by the public pool. Fix: use a SegWit address (bc1q…). Every modern wallet can do SegWit. At Finst SegWit is the default.

ASIC temperature above 75 °C

Cause: poor ventilation, a warm room or a blocked fan. Fix: position the NerdNOS so the fan draws fresh air, not straight against a wall or inside a cupboard. Avoid direct sunlight in summer. If it stays above 80 °C, lower the frequency slightly in the dashboard.

The display stays black after plugging in

Cause: a brownout, meaning the voltage is too low. Fix: use a different adapter rated for at least 1 A. If the display came on briefly and then went out, swap the USB-C cable (the data lines matter, not just power).

FAQ: the most common questions

How likely is my NerdNOS to find a block?

Honestly: the chance per device is small, as in any fair lottery. At an average 250 GH/s against a network hash rate of about 700 EH/s, your relative probability is around 3.6 × 10⁻¹⁰ per block. But the chance is real: every hash your NerdNOS computes has exactly the same chance of being a valid block hash as one from a large farm. And there are documented hobby finds, such as the 2 TH/s solo find in January 2024. More of the maths: solo mining calculator.

How much electricity does the NerdNOS use per year?

A measured 7.8 W of continuous load, which is about €22 a year on a German household tariff. Detailed measurement: how much electricity does the NerdNOS really use?

Do I strictly need the Hashlink app?

No, but it is the easiest route. Without the app you set the NerdNOS up over the NerdMinerAP network and the browser page 192.168.4.1 (see alternatives). For convenient monitoring while you are out, the app is still handy.

Can I run several NerdNOS units in parallel?

Yes. Each NerdNOS works independently. You can point them all at the same bitcoin address and the block chances add up. In the app or the pool dashboard you tell them apart by worker name (.nerdnos1, .nerdnos2). The app's free plan covers up to 4 devices.

Does the NerdNOS work without home Wi-Fi, on a phone hotspot?

Yes, as long as the hotspot supports 2.4 GHz. Data use is low (about 50 to 100 MB a month), but hotspots drop out more often than a fixed router. Detail: running a Nerdminer on a phone hotspot.

How does the NerdNOS differ from the Nerdminer V2?

The Nerdminer V2 only uses the ESP32-S3 as a microcontroller and hashes in software at about 200 to 250 KH/s (kilohash). The NerdNOS additionally has a real BM1397 ASIC, throttled to 8 W, which puts you at the level of genuine hardware solo mining. Detail: NerdNOS vs Nerdminer V2.

What happens if I find a block?

The block reward (currently 3.125 BTC, around €195,000) is sent by the public pool straight to the bitcoin address from your setup, with no fee and no pool share. After 6 bitcoin confirmations (about 60 minutes) the amount is final in your wallet. mempool.space shows every block live.

Do I have to pay tax on blocks I find?

In Germany the block reward counts, per the finance ministry, as other income (§ 22 no. 3 EStG) in the year it arrives. The €256 annual exemption limit applies and anything below it is tax free. If you hold the mined BTC for at least a year, a later sale is tax free as a private disposal under § 23 EStG. This is not tax advice, and rules differ in other countries. Detailed guide: bitcoin mining taxes in Germany.

Do I have to register a business?

For a single hobby device at home, generally no. German tax authorities only see a trade once mining is carried out sustainably, systematically and with the intention of making a profit (an organised farm, several devices). One NerdNOS on a desk typically falls under other services. If in doubt, ask an accountant.

How loud is the fan really?

About 42 dB at 30 cm, comparable to quiet office ventilation. Unremarkable in a home office during the day, noticeable right next to a bed at night. Tip: put the NerdNOS under the desk, where furniture dampens the fan without hurting the cooling.

What happens during a power cut?

The NerdNOS restarts by itself when power returns, connects to the stored Wi-Fi and carries on. The bitcoin address and all settings stay in flash memory. Nothing to do by hand.

Will the NerdNOS make me rich?

Honestly: solo mining is not a guaranteed income. What you do get is real solo mining you can touch: a genuine, fair block chance where every hash counts the same, something solid to learn and a piece of mining history on your desk that costs you around €22 of electricity a year. Find a block and it is roughly €195,000. Find none and you had a fascinating hobby with a real chance.

Do I need my own bitcoin full node?

No. By default the NerdNOS connects to public-pool.io, a public solo mining pool charging 0%. If you do run a full node, you can switch to your own solo stratum later.

After the setup: further reading

Any questions left?

If something goes wrong during setup: the two most common problems are 5 GHz instead of 2.4 GHz and a weak power supply, and both are checked in two minutes. For anything else, write to us at info@bitminer24.de. We usually answer within 24 hours, from Stuttgart, as actual people.

NerdNOS: a bitcoin solo miner for €99

Complete set with adapter and USB-C cable · 14-day right of return · free shipping within Germany · DHL GoGreen, carbon neutral

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Transparency note The Finst link is an affiliate link, so if you register or order through it we receive a commission. There is no extra cost to you. The NerdNOS and the Nerdminer V2 are our own products and we sell them directly in the shop. We only recommend what we run ourselves.