Bitcoin News Today: "Solo Bitcoin Miner Defies 1 in 180 Million Odds, Secures $265,000 Reward and Ignites Decentralization Discussion"

Against overwhelming odds, a solo

miner managed to earn a $265,000 reward by successfully mining block 924,569 on the Bitcoin blockchain, using a relatively modest 6 terahash per second (TH/s) setup. This individual, who utilized the CKPool service, received 3.146 BTC—comprising a 3.125 BTC block reward and 0.021 BTC from transaction fees—based on current market rates . With such a limited hashrate, the chance of this outcome was estimated at just 1 in 180 million per day, . This achievement marks the 308th solo block found through CKPool since its inception in 2014, and the first in almost three months.

The miner’s hardware was similar to the Bitaxe Gamma—a small, affordable device for enthusiasts that costs less than $100

. When the block was mined, the total hashrate of the Bitcoin network surpassed 855.7 exahashes per second (EH/s), meaning this miner of the network’s total computing power. In contrast, large-scale mining firms typically operate with , relying on significant investments in infrastructure and energy to maximize their returns.

This rare event has sparked renewed debate about whether solo mining is still viable in an industry that is becoming more centralized. While most miners join pools to combine their resources, solo miners keep the entire block reward if they succeed—minus a 2% fee paid to CKPool. "Another block for the plebs," , highlighting that, although uncommon, individual miners can still achieve such wins. Nonetheless, experts playing the lottery, with most rewards going to a small number of participants.

This payout highlights the fundamentals of Bitcoin’s proof-of-work system, where miners race to solve complex algorithms to confirm transactions and maintain network security. The 3.125 BTC block reward, plus transaction fees, offers a substantial incentive, though fees now make up less than 1% of miners’ earnings due to low network activity.

CKPool, which operates differently from conventional mining pools,

so far this year, averaging just over one per month. This recent success underscores the determination of individual miners in a sector largely controlled by major players. "This is living proof that you can do it," , capturing the excitement within the community for decentralized mining efforts.