Buying Bitcoin or Buying a Miner – Which Is More Worthwhile?
Bitcoin (BTC) remains a hot topic in 2025. But what pays off more: buying BTC directly or investing in a Bitcoin miner like the Bitaxe Gamma? On March 21, 2025 – Plebday – I’m launching an experiment: I’ll invest €130 in Bitcoin and €130 in a Bitaxe Gamma. This article compares both approaches, and I’ll update it regularly. As something came up in my private life, I postponed the experiment by roughly a week and am starting it at the same time as Mining Disrupt, a conference on the topic of Bitcoin.
Why This Experiment?
The decision between buying Bitcoin and mining depends on electricity costs, the BTC price, and a bit of luck. My Bitaxe Gamma (1.2 TH/s, 15 watts) often runs during the day on power from my own PV system (links to German article) – though at night, costs arise until I get a storage system (links to German article). What’s exciting about mining is that the Bitaxe is a Lucky Miner: With solo mining, it’s like playing a Lucky Lottery – if I find a block, I’d get (as of today) 3.125 Bitcoins. The odds are vanishingly small, but not entirely zero.
Plebday: Starting on March 21, 2025 March 26, 2025
March 21, dubbed Plebday by @OGBTC and @100AcresRanch, is a day when many shops lower their Bitaxe prices. You can find a list of all participating shops in my GitHub repository BitaxeGammaSale. Somewhat late, I looked for a source of supply and bought the following:
- Bitcoin: €130 in BTC.
- Bitaxe Gamma + Upgrades:
- Miner for $149 (+ $38 shipping - $15 discount “GFY”) from Plebsource: $173,52 / €161,05
- As someone who thinks and lives globally, I actually forgot to note that customs and import fees are added to orders from outside Europe. I will update the total price when I have all the figures. Update: Additional costs of €46.48 and thus “just” missing the target to buy the Bitaxe Gamma for roughly €130.
- Assuming I get a power supply that only supports 110V (USA), I ordered an additional power supply for operation in Germany from Solo Mining for a total of €19.68.
- Since the Bitaxe is currently in my office and the standard fan is quite loud, I did myself and the miner a favor and ordered a Noctua NF-A4x20 5V PWM, 4-Pin* for an additional €23.94.
- New thermal paste Noctua NT-H2 3,5g with cleaning cloths* for €18,89.
First Impressions (Updates to Follow)
As of April 23, 2025: Experiment started – BTC purchased (at €82,784), Bitaxe arrived on April 1st. First results will come in a few months.
| Method | Starting Value | BTC Amount | Value After X Months |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin Purchase | €130 | 0,00157035 | €130,20 |
| Bitaxe Mining | €270,04 | 0 | 0 |
Conclusion (Preliminary)
Buying Bitcoin is straightforward, while mining with the Bitaxe Gamma offers excitement – especially through the Lucky Lottery. Now it’s time to wait until the gamma has arrived and then it’s time to start mining.
If you’d like to delve deeper into the topic of Bitcoin, I recommend the book “The Bitcoin Standard” by Saifedean Ammous, which clearly explains the fundamentals and economic significance of Bitcoin. You can find the book directly on Amazon*. Enjoy reading!
Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
Where can I find an overview of all participating shops?
You can find a list of all participating shops in my GitHub repository BitaxeGammaSale.
Where can I buy Bitcoins?
You can buy Bitcoins at Bison (Germany) or at Coinfinity. Both allow you to transfer your Bitcoins to a private wallet.
Is there a discount code for Bitaxe Gamma in Europe?
With the code “solo,” you can get a 5% discount on the Bitaxe Gamma at GoBrrr.
When does Plebday take place?
Plebday takes place every year on March 21st.
Links marked with * are affiliate links. When you purchase through these links, there are no additional costs for you, but you help support the financing of this blog. As an Amazon partner, I earn from qualifying sales.