Bitcoin-Mining The Most Exciting Lottery in the World
Bitcoin home mining, especially in solo mode, is like a lottery ticket for the digital era. Instead of picking numbers, you bet with computing power on the next block. But how does it differ from the lottery?
In solo mining, you’re your own boss – no pool fees, no dependencies. The odds are low, but in 2025, 12 blocks have already been found by solo miners. (Source: mempool)
Unlike the lottery, you actively contribute to securing the Bitcoin network and gain insight into the technology. Ready to draw your ticket in the Bitcoin lottery?
| Criterion | Bitcoin Solo-Mining | Traditional Lottery |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Electricity costs (~0.10 €/kWh) + device (100–600 €) | Lottery ticket (~1–5 € per entry) |
| Prize | 3.125 BTC + fees (~370,000 USD as of 09/2025) | Jackpot (~1–45 million €, depending on the draw) |
| Odds of Winning | ~1:5 million/day (e.g., Bitaxe, 1.2 TH/s at 500 EH/s network hashrate) | ~1:140 million per draw |
| Frequency | Every ~10 minutes (new block) | Twice weekly |
| Additional Benefits | Learning, network security, community | None, purely gambling |
| Long-term Aspect | Continuous effort, scalable | Individual draws, no learning effect |
Summary
- Cost: Bitcoin Solo-Mining requires higher initial investment (hardware) and ongoing costs (electricity), while lottery tickets are cheaper but must be repeatedly purchased.
- Prize: The potential prize in solo-mining is high (~370,000 USD), but depends on the Bitcoin price. Lottery jackpots can be higher but vary significantly.
- Odds of Winning: Solo-mining offers daily chances (1:5 million/day), which can improve with more hashrate. Lotteries have worse odds (1:140 million) per draw.
- Frequency: Mining provides a new chance every ~10 minutes, lotteries only twice weekly.
- Additional Benefits: Solo-mining promotes technical knowledge and supports blockchain security, while lotteries are purely luck-based.
- Long-term Aspect: Mining is scalable (more devices, higher hashrate), while lotteries offer no long-term benefits.
