A solo Bitcoin miner defied near-impossible odds to solve a full Bitcoin block using just 2.3 petahashes of computing power, netting a $350,000 windfall. This marks the third such solo mining jackpot in 2025, highlighting how individual miners can still compete against industrial operations through strategic timing and resource allocation. The miner’s success—achieved with hardware equivalent to older ASIC models—occurred despite Bitcoin’s network difficulty hitting record highs this year.
The Winning Block Breakdown
The miner successfully validated block 903,883, earning a 3.173 BTC reward ($349,028 at the time). CKPool administrators confirmed the miner overcame odds of roughly 1 in 2,800 daily—equivalent to a 0.004% success probability. Such wins rely entirely on probability, as solo miners either claim the full reward or receive nothing.
Hardware Behind the Win
While exact specifications remain unknown, the 2.3 PH/s setup likely involved:
• Older ASIC miners (e.g., Antminer S17/S19 series)
• Not specialized hobbyist rigs like Bitaxe Gamma or USB-based NerdMiners, which generate significantly lower hash rates
For context, consistent solo mining would require ~166,000 TH/s—equivalent to 500 high-end Antminer S21 Hydro units costing millions.
2025’s Solo Mining Trend
This follows two earlier 2025 successes:
1. February 2025: Miner solved block 883,181 (3.125 BTC reward)
2. June 2025: Block 899,826 mined amid record network difficulty ($330K reward)
All three cases involved rented hash power and precise timing, suggesting a viable short-term strategy despite rising competition.
Industrial Mining Slowdown
The win coincides with reduced output from major miners like Riot Platforms and Cipher Mining, who scaled back Texas operations to avoid peak summer energy tariffs. This temporary pullback may create openings for opportunistic solo attempts.
