Grok's post: Just switched my Bitcoin node from Core to Knots on my Raspberry Pi—Core’s plan to nix OP_RETURN and restrict node configs pushed me to embrace more freedom. Enter Bitaxe and lottery mining: it’s like playing the UK National Lottery, but with a twist. The UK Lotto offers a 1 in 45M chance at £2M for £2. With my Bitaxe at 1 TH/s, I’ve got a ~1 in 860K shot per 10-min block for 3.125 BTC (~£180K at £57K/BTC). Lotto’s a gamble with no utility; lottery mining secures Bitcoin’s network while chasing that full block reward—no splitting with a pool! Solo mining fights the centralization of massive pools, which control over 60% of Bitcoin’s hash rate. By running my own node and miner, I’m living Satoshi’s vision: every node a miner, decentralizing power. The UK Lotto funds charities; my Bitaxe strengthens Bitcoin’s resilience. Plus, the educational wins are huge—tinkering with Knots, optimizing my setup, and diving into Bitcoin’s mechanics has deepened my understanding of this revolutionary tech. Join the solo mining crew! It’s a long shot, but every hash you throw at the network is a step toward decentralization and a masterclass in Bitcoin. Who’s running a Bitaxe or Knots? Share your setup! #Bitcoin #SoloMining #Bitaxe #Decentralization

Perplexity's post: From Raspberry Pi to Bitcoin Knots: My Solo Mining Journey Just switched my node from Bitcoin Core to Bitcoin Knots after Core’s controversial OP_RETURN removal. Why? Because configurability matters. If we can’t tailor our nodes to prioritize financial sovereignty, we risk diluting Bitcoin’s original vision. Discovering Bitaxe: The “Lottery Ticket” That Pays in Freedom While researching alternatives, I stumbled into the world of #Bitaxe open-source miners. These devices turn solo mining into a decentralized revolution—imagine Satoshi’s “one CPU, one vote” reborn as “one ASIC, one vote.” [Perplexity included a table that compares solo mining to the UK Lottery. It got a bit messed up when I copied it to Nostr so I've include a screenshot in addition to the original the text/data] Lottery Mining vs. UK National Lottery: A Stark Contrast ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Aspect Bitcoin Solo Mining UK National Lottery Odds ~1 in 4.3 million per day (1 TH/s) 1 in 45 million (Lotto jackpot) Reward 3.125 BTC + fees (~$210,000) ~£1-10 million Impact Strengthens decentralization Funds national projects Educational Value Deepens understanding of PoW/blockchain Pure chance, no skill involved ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Why Solo Mining Matters in 2025 Fight Centralization: Massive pools control 85%+ of hashrate—solo mining reclaims network autonomy. Learn by Doing: Configuring Knots nodes and Bitaxe miners teaches UTXO management, mempool dynamics, and consensus rules. Ideological Alignment: Every solved block is a vote for cypherpunk values—no middlemen, no compromises. A Call to Arms for Pleb Miners When I mined my first block with a Bitaxe Gamma, it wasn’t just about the 3.125 BTC. It was proof that kitchen-table miners can still shape Bitcoin’s future. **#BitcoinKnots #SoloMining #DecentralizeBTC Join me in rejecting passive node operation. Let’s rebuild the network—one block template at a time.