Bitcoin Solo Mining: Can You Strike It Rich on Your Own?
In the world of bitcoin mining, there's a path less traveled that occasionally leads to extraordinary rewards. While most miners join pools to receive consistent but smaller payouts, the solo mining route offers a different proposition entirely:
The chance to discover an entire block and claim all 3.125 bitcoin (plus fees) for yourself.
For the brave solo miner, it's akin to playing a high-stakes lottery with potentially life-changing prizes. At FutureBit, we've always believed in democratizing access to bitcoin mining. We build products that make it possible for individuals to participate in securing the network while maintaining its decentralized nature.
The question many ask us: is the solo mining route worth the risk, or are you better off joining forces with others?
What Is Solo Mining and How Does It Work?
Solo mining means exactly what it sounds like: mining bitcoin completely on your own. Unlike pool mining, where rewards are shared among participants based on contributed computing power, a solo miner works independently to solve the complex mathematical problems that validate new blocks.
When a solo miner successfully mines a block, they receive the entire block reward without sharing. The process requires the same hardware as pool mining, but the critical difference lies in how rewards are distributed.
A solo miner connects directly to the bitcoin network through a full node, which validates transactions and broadcasts solutions. Each solo mining attempt is essentially a race against all other miners worldwide to find the correct hash first.
While the technical aspects remain identical to pool mining, the solo mining experience differs dramatically in terms of reward frequency and size.
The Lottery Effect: Calculating Your Chances
The comparison between solo mining and a lottery isn't just metaphorical. The statistical reality backs it up.
With the current network difficulty, a solo miner with even 100 TH/s (terahashes per second) has approximately a 1 in 50,000 chance of finding a block on any given day. These long odds create what some call the bitcoin lottery mining effect (AKA rare successes with enormous payouts).
For perspective, a solo miner with a single modern ASIC miner might wait decades before finding a block. However, just as lottery winners exist despite the odds, successful solo miners do occasionally hit the jackpot.
The challenge though remains: balancing the potential for a massive one-time reward against the statistical probability of success.
Real Success Stories: When Lightning Strikes
Despite the daunting odds, solo mining success stories continue to emerge. The dream of claiming the full block reward remains powerfully motivating.
In March 2025, a solo Bitcoin miner running a 2,500 home rig mined Block 888,737 with (60–100TH/s).They earned 3.157BTC. This success highlights how even modest setups can occasionally outcompete industrial mining pools, despite astronomically low odds.
Here at FutureBit, we made history when a solo miner hit Block 867760 using one of our Apollo devices. That single solo mining success shows our vision that anyone can secure Bitcoin with modest hardware. Our Apollo series empowers individuals with efficient, quiet, and compact mining rigs, proving you don’t need a warehouse to make an impact. It’s a game changer for decentralizing Bitcoin mining and keeping the network in the hands of everyday users.
Equipment That Improves Your Odds
While luck plays a significant role in solo mining success, the right equipment meaningfully increases your chances. Our Apollo provides the efficient hashing power that gives solo miners their best shot at success.
With its advanced 5nm ASIC technology and built-in mining pool capability, it allows a solo miner to mine directly to their bitcoin node. The Apollo enhances both potential rewards and network decentralization.
The reality is that every additional terahash improves a solo miner's odds, which makes equipment selection crucial for anyone considering the approach of a bitcoin lottery miner. Energy efficiency becomes particularly important for solo miners who may operate for extended periods before finding a block.
Is Solo Mining Right for You?
Whether solo mining makes sense depends on your goals and risk tolerance.
If you value consistent income, pool mining likely suits you better.
If you're drawn to the possibility of a larger one-time reward and want to directly strengthen bitcoin's decentralization, solo mining might align with your philosophy.
For those considering the latter path, our Apollo II collection provides the technology needed to maximize your chances while minimizing energy costs. The ideal solo miner approaches this endeavor with patience and realistic expectations.
Solo mining requires understanding that you might operate for years without finding a block. Or that you might get lucky in your first month.
The most successful solo miners tend to view their operation through two lenses. First, as a contribution to network security, then as a lottery ticket with ongoing utility regardless of block discovery.
Empowering Your Mining Journey
At FutureBit, we believe in putting mining power back in the hands of individuals. Whether you choose solo mining or pool mining, the act of validating transactions helps secure bitcoin's future.
Solo miners embody bitcoin's decentralized ethos. They become a network participant who doesn't rely on centralized mining pools.
While the odds make solo mining challenging, the possibility of success keeps the dream alive for many solo miners. As difficulty continues to increase, efficient and accessible mining hardware becomes ever more crucial.
We're proud to provide the tools that make this journey possible for solo miners around the world, regardless of technical background or resources.
FAQs
Has anyone won the Bitcoin lottery?
Yes, several solo miners have successfully "won the Bitcoin lottery" by finding a full block on their own, despite low odds. In June 2025, a solo miner earned over $325,000 in BTC by solving a block entirely solo. These rare wins highlight the appeal of lottery mining, not to forget that this individual did this using Futurebit’s Apollo II ASIC home miner.
Can you mine Bitcoin on your phone?
No, mining Bitcoin on a phone is not practical or profitable. Modern Bitcoin mining requires ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit) hardware that far surpasses what any smartphone can deliver. Attempting to mine on a mobile device would consume excessive power, risk device damage, and produce essentially no results. For real mining, whether you're joining a pool or attempting solo lottery mining, purpose-built devices are essential.
What is the best coin to mine at home?
Bitcoin remains the most recognized and decentralized cryptocurrency to mine, especially for those who want to support the network’s long-term health. That said, some users mine alternative coins (like Litecoin or Monero) due to lower difficulty or different hardware requirements. At FutureBit, our focus is on Bitcoin, and we've optimized the Apollo BTC series specifically for home Bitcoin mining, combining full-node capabilities with ASIC power in a single device. For those committed to supporting Bitcoin’s original mission, it’s still the best coin to mine from home.
Is solo mining worth it?
Solo mining or bitcoin lottery mining is worth it for those who understand the odds and are motivated by more than just short-term profits. The chances of mining a block on your own are slim, but the rewards can be life-changing if you succeed. More importantly, solo miners play a vital role in Bitcoin’s decentralization, helping reduce reliance on industrial-scale pools. At FutureBit, our mission is to keep solo mining accessible. With energy-efficient, plug-and-play devices like the Apollo II, solo mining remains a meaningful way to participate in and support the Bitcoin network.
What will happen when all 21 million Bitcoins are mined?
Once all 21 million bitcoins are mined, expected around the year 2140, miners will no longer receive block rewards in the form of new Bitcoin. Instead, they’ll earn income solely from transaction fees. By that time, it’s expected that transaction volume and fee incentives will be strong enough to sustain the network.