BBO_x34

security

So I'm at the Bitcoin conference, right? Guy next to me has this fancy Yubikey hanging from his lanyard like it's some kind of security holy grail. "Yo, you NEED one of these. Hardware security, can't be hacked, best thing ever."

Cool. I order one. 55€ later, it arrives.

Set it up for PGP. Follow all the tutorials. Move my subkeys onto it. Feel like a proper cypherpunk for about 5 minutes.

Then I try to certify someone's public key.

"Error: Cannot certify with subkey."

Wait, what?

Turns out the stupid thing can't actually certify keys. Only holds 3 subkeys anyway - sign, encrypt, authenticate. That's it. Want to certify someone's identity? Need your master key. Which obviously shouldn't be on the Yubikey because that defeats the entire point of keeping it offline.

So now I have this workflow:
- Boot Tails from USB for anything important (certifying keys, managing web of trust)
- Use Yubikey for... signing emails I guess?

The kicker? Still need to type a PIN every time I use the damn thing. So much for "convenient."

Don't get me wrong - it's not completely useless. Nice for traveling, protects the subkeys, whatever. But all those YouTube tutorials making it sound like the ultimate security solution? Yeah, no.

My airgapped Tails setup still does the heavy lifting. The Yubikey is just an expensive way to avoid typing `gpg --sign` with a local key.

Hardware can't fix stupid OpSec. Who knew?

Still keeping it though. Looks cool on the keychain. Maybe one day I'll find a proper use case that isn't just security theater.

I Bought a Yubikey and It's Basically Useless

econ

Satoshi Deserves the Nobel Prize

How so???

I think something is not working too. She is only getting CC and not sats, why? 

Forwarding the sats of this post to a in process of orange pilling Bitcoiner friend of mine @Ottosats - I hope she gets hooked with SN too :D

Been thinking about this while. Satoshi Nakamoto basically solved the biggest problem in economics and gets zero recognition from the establishment.

## What Satoshi Actually Did

Created the first functioning solution to the double-spend problem without a trusted third party. That's it. Sounds boring but it's actually revolutionary.

For thousands of years, money required either physical objects (gold, shells, stones) or trusted institutions (banks, governments). Satoshi figured out how to create digital money that doesn't need either.

The Byzantine Generals Problem had stumped computer scientists for decades. How do you get distributed systems to agree on something without a central authority? Proof of work plus incentives. Elegant and it actually works.

## Why This is Nobel-Level Economics

The Nobel committee loves giving prizes for game theory, mechanism design, and monetary economics. Satoshi's work touches all three.

Game theory: Bitcoin creates a system where rational self-interest leads to collective benefit. Miners compete to secure the network and get rewarded for it.

Mechanism design: The whole system is designed so that attacking it costs more than protecting it. Economic incentives aligned with network security.

Monetary economics: Created the first truly scarce digital asset. No central bank can print more Bitcoin no matter what happens.

Compare this to recent Nobel winners. Paul Krugman won for "trade patterns and location of economic activity." Satoshi invented a new form of money. Which seems more important?

## The Academic Bias

But here's why it won't happen. The Nobel committee is full of Keynesian economists who think central banks are necessary and Bitcoin is just speculation.

They gave Krugman the prize despite him being wrong about basically everything. Said the internet would have no more impact than fax machines. Called Bitcoin a bubble while it went from $1 to $100k.

Ben Bernanke got one for research on banks and financial crises. This is the guy who said subprime mortgages were contained right before 2008. Meanwhile Satoshi created a system that makes bank bailouts impossible.

## The Identity Problem

The Nobel Prize goes to people, not pseudonyms. They'd need to know who Satoshi is to award it. And if Satoshi ever reveals themselves, they'll probably be arrested by some government.

This is actually perfect though. The biggest contribution to economics in decades comes from someone who stayed anonymous and disappeared. Very cypherpunk.

![](https://m.stacker.news/99735)

Also explains why the establishment hates Bitcoin so much. Some anonymous person solved problems that famous economists couldn't figure out. Must be embarrassing.

## What the Citation Would Say

"For the creation of a peer-to-peer electronic cash system that solves the double-spend problem through cryptographic proof rather than trust, demonstrating how economic incentives can coordinate distributed systems without central authority."

But instead they'll probably give it to someone who wrote papers about why inflation is good and central banks need more power.

## Austrian School Recognition

Funny thing is, Austrian economists have been saying for decades that money should be market-chosen, not government-mandated. Hayek wrote about competing currencies. Mises explained why socialist calculation is impossible.

Satoshi basically built what the Austrians theorized. Proved their ideas work in practice. But the Nobel committee ignores Austrian economics because it threatens their Keynesian worldview.

Maybe the Mises Institute should create their own prize. Call it the Satoshi Award for Monetary Innovation or something.

## The Real Prize

Satoshi doesn't need recognition from academic economists. Bitcoin's success is better than any prize.

Started at zero value, now it's a trillion-dollar asset. Survived attempts to ban it, fork it, co-opt it. Gets stronger every four years.

Meanwhile Nobel Prize winners publish papers nobody reads about theories that don't work in practice.

## European Perspective

The ECB hates Bitcoin because it threatens their monopoly on money creation. They can't inflate away debt if people use hard money instead.

Christine Lagarde keeps saying Bitcoin has no intrinsic value while printing euros backed by nothing. The irony is lost on them.

Maybe that's why Satoshi stayed anonymous. Harder to arrest or pressure someone you can't find.

## The Ultimate Troll

Think about it - some anonymous person creates a better monetary system than entire governments, then disappears. Leaves a nine-page whitepaper and working code. 

No patents, no copyright, no attempt to profit personally. Just gives humanity a gift and walks away.

That's more noble than any Nobel Prize winner I can think of.

## When They Finally Recognize It

Eventually the academic establishment will have to acknowledge Bitcoin's importance. Maybe in 20 years when it's the global reserve currency.

But by then it'll be too late to give Satoshi credit. And honestly, that's probably how they'd prefer it.

The best economics Nobel Prize will never be awarded because the recipient chose to remain unknown. Perfect ending for someone who created trustless money.

## My Prediction

They'll give the prize to someone who studies Bitcoin instead of creating it. Some professor who wrote papers about "cryptocurrency adoption patterns" or "blockchain game theory."

Meanwhile Satoshi's innovation keeps running 24/7, processing transactions, securing wealth, providing an alternative to failing fiat currencies.

The Bitaxe on my desk is doing more for monetary freedom than most Nobel laureates ever did.

Sometimes the most important work goes unrecognized by institutions. That's probably for the best.

LUKS Full Disk Encryption Setup (Because Privacy Matters)

Okay so maybe I'm posting too much but these sats are addictive. Someone just zapped me 500 sats for the VPN tutorial so here's another one.

Been getting paranoid about laptop security lately. Too many stories about border crossings, "random" police checks, and governments wanting to peek at your data. Time to encrypt everything.

## Why LUKS?

Linux Unified Key Setup is the standard for disk encryption on Linux. Built into the kernel, well tested, and actually works. Unlike some proprietary solutions that have backdoors or break randomly.

Best part - it's transparent once set up. You unlock at boot, then everything works normally. No performance hit worth mentioning on modern hardware.

## What This Does

Full disk encryption means everything on your drive is scrambled without the password. Someone steals your laptop? They get an expensive brick. Police confiscate it? Good luck accessing anything.

Only the boot partition stays unencrypted (has to be for obvious reasons). Everything else - your Bitcoin wallet, your browsing history, your embarrassing memes - all protected.

## The Setup Process

I'm assuming you're installing fresh. Doing this on an existing system is possible but way more complicated.

Boot your Linux installer (I use Debian but this works on most distros). When you get to partitioning, choose manual.

## Partition Layout

Create three partitions:
- /boot (500MB, ext4, unencrypted)
- swap (same size as your RAM, encrypted)  
- / (rest of disk, ext4, encrypted)

Some people skip encrypted swap but that's where your RAM gets dumped. Your Bitcoin private keys could end up there.

## Setting Up LUKS

In the installer, when configuring your main partition:
1. Select "physical volume for encryption"
2. Choose a strong passphrase (seriously, make it good)
3. Set encryption method to aes-xts-plain64
4. Key size 512 bits

The installer will set up everything else. Takes forever to initialize on big drives but be patient.

## Post-Install Tweaks

First boot will ask for your password. Then you're in like normal.

Check your setup:
```bash
sudo cryptsetup status /dev/mapper/sda3_crypt
```

Should show AES encryption active.

Add a second key slot in case you forget the password:
```bash
sudo cryptsetup luksAddKey /dev/sda3
```

## Performance Check

See if encryption is actually costing you:
```bash
sudo cryptsetup benchmark
```

On any decent CPU from the last 5 years, AES should be fast enough that you won't notice.

## Backup Your Headers

This is important - LUKS headers contain the encryption metadata. If they get corrupted, your data is gone forever.

```bash
sudo cryptsetup luksHeaderBackup /dev/sda3 --header-backup-file luks-header-backup
```

Store this backup somewhere safe. Different physical location. Maybe on an encrypted USB stick.

## Multiple Keys

You can have up to 8 key slots. Useful for:
- Main password
- Recovery password  
- USB key file
- Emergency access for family

Add a key file:
```bash
dd if=/dev/urandom of=/root/keyfile bs=1024 count=4
sudo cryptsetup luksAddKey /dev/sda3 /root/keyfile
```

## USB Key Unlock

Want to unlock with a USB stick? Create a key file on the USB, then modify /etc/crypttab:
```
sda3_crypt UUID=your-uuid /path/to/usb/keyfile luks
```

Now it unlocks automatically when the USB is plugged in.

## Things That Can Go Wrong

Boot partition gets corrupted? You're screwed without a backup.

Forget your password and don't have other key slots? Data is gone.

Headers get damaged? Hope you backed them up.

Power loss during initial encryption? Start over.

This isn't like forgetting your Facebook password. There's no recovery. Plan accordingly.

## The Paranoid Extras

Use a detached header - store the LUKS header on a USB stick:
```bash
sudo cryptsetup luksFormat /dev/sda3 --header /media/usb/header
```

Now even if someone gets your laptop, they need the USB stick too.

Or use hidden volumes - create a decoy system that unlocks to boring stuff, real data hidden deeper. But that's getting into serious tinfoil hat territory.

## Mobile Devices

Android has this built in now. iPhone too. But you're trusting Apple/Google not to have backdoors.

GrapheneOS and CalyxOS are better options if you want proper mobile security without corporate surveillance.

## Border Crossings

Some countries can legally force you to decrypt devices. Know your rights and risks.

Having a travel laptop with minimal data and your real stuff encrypted at home is one approach. Or use cloud storage that you can't be forced to access.

## Current Setup

Running LUKS on my main laptop, server, and backup drives. Never had issues. Boots maybe 10 seconds slower than unencrypted.

Sleep/hibernate works fine. Performance is identical for normal use. Battery life unchanged.

Only downside is you can't easily recover data if you screw up the passwords. But that's kind of the point.

## Worth the Hassle?

Takes 20 minutes to set up during install. Zero ongoing maintenance. Huge increase in privacy protection.

Given how governments are getting more invasive and crypto holders are becoming targets, seems like a no-brainer.

Your Bitcoin wallet, your browsing history, your private communications - all protected with military-grade encryption that even three-letter agencies can't crack (probably).

---

Remember - privacy is a right, not a privilege. Don't make it easy for them.

events

Barcelona Bitcoin Only meetup events agenda

@BBO_x34's bio

Just want to introduce to shut the fuck up. No need to shill, go away. 

tech

How to Set Up Your Own VPN with Bitcoin VPS (No KYC Required)

Nothing of truly free Sir. Energy is not free. 

They say they cannot log HTTP and DNS, they still can log IPs from your clients, the same as  the physical owner of your rented VPS.

You can always log something. 

With this risk profile, I would suggest using Tails with a no KYC SIM or neighbors WiFi as your exit point, as it is what the Hosting might register from you. Of course they still can access the VPS. Paranoia is never ending, but this VPN use case is more Home intended. 

BTW, thanks @ek for your contributions to the space!!! 

Of course. If that is your concern, multiple VPS'es could be a solution for you, proxychains and some Tor connection too. Performance on the floor but higher privacy. Trade off. 

Got tired of trusting VPN companies with my data. Decided to roll my own. Turns out it's easier than I thought, and you can pay for everything with Bitcoin through Tor. Full privacy from start to finish.

## Why Bother?

Most VPN services log your data despite what they claim. Even the "no logs" ones can be compromised or forced to start logging. Plus they know who you are because you paid with a credit card tied to your identity.

Running your own VPN means you control everything. No third party to trust. No logs unless you make them. And if you're smart about it, nobody knows it's yours.

## What You Need

- Bitcoin (obviously)
- Tor browser
- Basic Linux knowledge (I'll walk you through it)
- About 30 minutes
- 5000 sats for hosting

## Step 1: Get a VPS with Bitcoin

I used 1984 hosting because they're based in Iceland, accept Bitcoin, and don't ask for ID. Access their site through Tor.

Through Tor browser:
1. Go to 1984hosting.com (they have an onion address too)
2. Pick a VPS plan - their smallest one works fine for personal use
3. At checkout, select Bitcoin payment
4. They'll give you a Bitcoin address
5. Send payment from your wallet (use a mixing service first if you're paranoid)
6. Wait for confirmation

Takes about an hour to get your VPS details via email. They'll send you IP address, root password, etc.

## Step 2: Secure Your VPS

First thing - change that root password and set up proper access.

SSH into your VPS:
```bash
ssh root@your-vps-ip
```

Update everything:
```bash
apt update && apt upgrade -y
```

Create a new user (don't use root for everything):
```bash
adduser yourusername
usermod -aG sudo yourusername
```

Set up SSH keys for secure access:
```bash
mkdir ~/.ssh
chmod 700 ~/.ssh
```

Copy your public key to the server, then disable password auth:
```bash
nano /etc/ssh/sshd_config
```

Change these lines:
```
PasswordAuthentication no
PermitRootLogin no
```

Restart SSH:
```bash
systemctl restart ssh
```

## Step 3: Install WireGuard

WireGuard is fast, modern, and way simpler than OpenVPN.

```bash
apt install wireguard -y
```

Generate server keys:
```bash
cd /etc/wireguard
wg genkey | tee privatekey | wg pubkey > publickey
```

Create server config:
```bash
nano /etc/wireguard/wg0.conf
```

Put this in the file:
```
[Interface]
PrivateKey = [your server private key]
Address = 10.0.0.1/24
ListenPort = 51820
PostUp = iptables -A FORWARD -i %i -j ACCEPT; iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -o eth0 -j MASQUERADE
PostDown = iptables -D FORWARD -i %i -j ACCEPT; iptables -t nat -D POSTROUTING -o eth0 -j MASQUERADE

[Peer]
PublicKey = [your client public key - we'll generate this next]
AllowedIPs = 10.0.0.2/32
```

## Step 4: Set Up Client

On your local machine, install WireGuard and generate client keys:

```bash
wg genkey | tee client_privatekey | wg pubkey > client_publickey
```

Create client config:
```bash
nano client.conf
```

```
[Interface]
PrivateKey = [your client private key]
Address = 10.0.0.2/24
DNS = 1.1.1.1

[Peer]
PublicKey = [your server public key]
Endpoint = your-vps-ip:51820
AllowedIPs = 0.0.0.0/0
PersistentKeepalive = 25
```

## Step 5: Enable IP Forwarding

Back on the server:
```bash
echo 'net.ipv4.ip_forward=1' >> /etc/sysctl.conf
sysctl -p
```

Add your client's public key to the server config, then start WireGuard:
```bash
systemctl enable wg-quick@wg0
systemctl start wg-quick@wg0
```

## Step 6: Configure Firewall

Set up UFW to only allow what you need:
```bash
ufw allow ssh
ufw allow 51820/udp
ufw enable
```

## Step 7: Connect

Import the client config into your WireGuard app and connect. Check your IP at whatismyipaddress.com - should show your VPS location now.

## Random Tips

- Change the default WireGuard port from 51820 to something random
- Use different VPS providers for different purposes  
- Consider running your own DNS resolver too
- Don't use the VPS for anything else that could identify you
- Rotate servers periodically

## Troubleshooting

If it's not working:
- Check firewall rules on both ends
- Make sure IP forwarding is enabled
- Verify your keys are correct
- Check if your ISP blocks WireGuard ports

## Other Providers

1984 hosting works well but there are others:
- Njalla (accepts Bitcoin, privacy focused)
- BitLaunch (Bitcoin only, multiple providers)
- VirMach (cheap, accepts crypto)

## The Paranoid Version

Want maximum privacy? 
- Pay for VPS through multiple hops (exchange Bitcoin first)
- Use Tails OS for the setup process
- Route through multiple VPS servers
- Change servers monthly

## Is It Worth It?

For €5/month you get your own private VPN that nobody else controls. No logging policies to trust, no jurisdiction issues, no bandwidth sharing with sketchy users.

Setup takes maybe an hour. Maintenance is basically zero. And you learn how VPNs actually work instead of just clicking "connect" on some app.

## Current Status

Been running mine for 6 months now. Zero issues. Fast speeds. Complete privacy as far as I can tell.

Cost about €30 total so far. Compare that to NordVPN or whatever charging €100/year for worse privacy.

Plus now I actually understand how this stuff works instead of just trusting some company's marketing.

Education

Bitaxe Update + Why I Wish We'd Done Homeschool

I'm definitely trying to do it but is not an fairly easy task to do. I feel many places in USA and even LATAM are far more advanced than EU in terms of sovereignty and liberty. 

Still mining dust with the Bitaxe. €8 earned, probably €25 in electricity. The math remains brutal.

But wanted to talk about something that's been bugging me lately.

## This Family I Met

Was at the Barcelona Cypherpunk conference last month. Met this expat family from Germany who moved here a few years ago. Really cool people, proper bitcoiners.

Their 11 year old kid comes up to me while I'm explaining Lightning Network to someone. Kid starts asking questions about channel liquidity and routing fees. I'm like... what?

Turns out they homeschool. Been doing it since they moved to Catalunya. Kid speaks three languages, understands Austrian economics better than most politicians, and can actually think critically.

Meanwhile my kids are in the Generalitat school system learning about how the ECB "maintains price stability" and why we need the euro for "European unity."

## The Spanish System is Broken

Look, I love Barcelona. But the education system here is a disaster. Half the time is spent on political indoctrination - Catalan independence, EU good, capitalism bad. The other half is memorizing useless facts for exams.

Financial education? Zero. They teach kids that banks "create jobs" and that inflation is caused by greedy businesses. No mention of money printing or Cantillon effects.

My 12 year old came home last week saying we should have more social programs and higher taxes. I'm like... who's paying for your PlayStation again?

## The Paperwork Nightmare

Here's the thing though - homeschooling in Spain is legally complicated. It's not explicitly illegal but it's not really legal either. Families live in this grey zone, always worried about truancy officers.

The German family I met had to jump through hoops. Register with German authorities, file paperwork with Catalunya, deal with suspicious social workers. It's a mess.

But they said it was worth every headache. Their kids are getting a real education instead of state propaganda.

## What We're Missing

While my kids learn about gender theory and climate catastrophism, homeschool kids are learning actual skills. Logic, rhetoric, mathematics that isn't dumbed down, real history instead of revisionist nonsense.

The dad showed me their curriculum. They're using Austrian school economics texts, studying actual philosophers, learning about Bitcoin as sound money. Not as "speculative digital assets" like the Spanish media portrays it.

Their kids understand why the peseta failed, why joining the euro was a mistake, why printing money makes everyone poorer. My kids think money comes from the government.

## Catalan Complications

It's even worse here because everything's politicized. Half the classes are in Catalan, which is fine, but it's wrapped up in separatist ideology. Kids learn that Madrid is evil and Brussels is our savior.

No critical thinking about why we traded one distant capital for another. No discussion of why small, independent regions like Switzerland or Singapore do better than big bureaucratic unions.

Just "EU good, Spain bad, independence will solve everything." Meanwhile the ECB controls our money supply and Brussels makes our laws.

## My Regrets

If I'm honest, we screwed up. Should have pulled the kids out years ago. Now they're teenagers, have their friend groups, think I'm just a weird Bitcoin conspiracy theorist when I try to explain reality.

The homeschool family started when their kids were young. Built the foundation early. My kids' foundation is state school nonsense that I'm trying to chip away at piece by piece.

Should have been braver. Should have dealt with the bureaucracy. Should have prioritized their minds over social convenience.

## The Bitcoin Angle

The homeschool dad made a good point. He's raising kids who will understand why Bitcoin matters before they get brainwashed into thinking central banks are necessary.

His kids know self-custody, understand proof of work, get why decentralization matters. They see the Bitaxe setup and immediately understand the game theory behind mining.

My kids see it and ask why I'm wasting electricity on "fake internet money." Because that's what their teachers and the TV tell them.

## European Mindset

The worst part is how Europeans are conditioned to trust authority. "The experts know best." "The EU protects us." "We need regulations for safety."

My kids are absorbing this mentality. That you need permission to do things. That bureaucrats in Brussels understand your life better than you do. That more government is always the answer.

Meanwhile the homeschool kids are learning to question everything, think independently, take responsibility for their own lives.

## What I'm Doing Now

Trying to deprogram them at home. Teaching them about the Catalan banking crisis of 1931, how currency controls destroyed the economy, why black markets exist.

Showing them Venezuela, Argentina, Turkey - what happens when governments control money completely. Trying to make it real instead of abstract.

Also teaching them basic economics. Why prices coordinate information. Why profits aren't theft. Why competition helps consumers.

## The Language Thing

One advantage here - they speak Spanish, Catalan, and English. So they can access different perspectives, not just local propaganda.

Been giving them books in English about Austrian economics, American history, different viewpoints. Trying to broaden their information diet.

But it's still playing defense against 8 hours a day of institutional programming.

## Looking Forward

Maybe when they're older they'll appreciate what I'm trying to teach them. Maybe they'll question the narratives they've been fed.

Or maybe they'll just think their dad was a paranoid bitcoiner who didn't trust "democratic institutions."

Either way, I wish we'd been braver earlier. Wish we'd given them a proper education instead of state indoctrination.

Anyone else know any families successfully homeschooling here?

The Bitaxe keeps humming along btw. Still burning money for the cause. Some things never change.

bitcoin_Mining

Got a Bitaxe

Definitely more, I have the place but not the cheap electricity tho

Around 50-55°C normally, now closer to 60°C with the heat wave in Europe. 

Been running this thing for like 2 months now. Thought I'd share some random thoughts since people keep asking about it.

## The Numbers Are Brutal

Made about $4 in Bitcoin. Spent probably $15 in electricity. Math is not mathing but whatever. 

Wife keeps asking why I'm paying money to heat the office. Hard to explain that I'm "participating in the network" when she sees the electric bill.

Actually found a share yesterday that took like 6 hours. Variance is wild on these small miners. Sometimes you hit 10 shares in an hour, sometimes nothing for half a day.

## Pool Hopping

Started on Ocean, moved to Braiins for a bit, now back to Ocean. Honestly can't tell much difference in payouts. We're talking about fractions of fractions here.

Tried CK Pool too but their minimum payout is annoying for something earning pennies. Took forever to reach the threshold.

Some guy on Twitter is solo mining with his Bitaxe. Absolute madman. Respect though. If he hits a block I'll probably buy 10 more of these things immediately.

## Firmware Updates

They keep pushing updates. Usually install them, sometimes forget for weeks. Hard to tell if they actually improve anything at this scale.

Latest one supposedly improves efficiency but my hashrate looks the same. Still bouncing around 380-420 GH/s depending on temperature.

## Random Stuff I've Noticed

Room definitely gets warmer. AC is needed now. 

The thing has been running 24/7 for months with zero issues. More reliable than my WiFi honestly.

LED color changes based on status. Red when something's wrong, green when happy. Very simple.

Sometimes the web interface crashes and you have to restart it. Not often but happens.

## People's Reactions

Showed it to my neighbor. He asked if it was a router. Then asked if I was making money. Had to explain I'm basically paying for a very expensive space heater that occasionally finds digital pennies.

My kid thinks it's cool that it's "making Bitcoin" even though I've explained it's more like playing the lottery every second.

Tried explaining difficulty adjustments to my uncle. His eyes glazed over. Just told him it's a computer that helps keep Bitcoin secure.

## The Addiction

Check the stats way too often. There's this little dopamine hit when you see shares being found. Completely irrational given the amounts involved.

Started following difficulty adjustments more closely. When it goes up, my already-tiny rewards get tinier. When it goes down, I feel like I'm winning even though nothing changed.

## Technical Stuff

Temperature sits around 50-55°C. Seems fine. Fan noise is minimal.

Power consumption is steady at like 14 watts. About the same as an LED light bulb.

WiFi connection has been solid. Was worried about that since my router is upstairs.

## Is It Worth It?

No. Obviously not from a financial perspective. 

But it's fun in a weird way. Like having a pet that costs money and occasionally poops out satoshis.

Also feels good to contribute to decentralization, even in this tiny way. Every hash matters or whatever.

## What I'd Do Different

Maybe buy two next time so I can try solo and pool simultaneously.

Definitely get a better desk fan for summer. This thing plus computer plus monitors made the room pretty toasty.

Should have started tracking exact costs from day one. Now I'm just guessing on electricity usage.

## Bottom Line

It's a toy. An expensive, electricity-consuming toy that makes me feel like I'm part of the Bitcoin network.

Will probably keep running it until it breaks or I get bored. Neither seems likely soon.

If you're thinking about getting one, just know what you're getting into. You're not starting a mining business. You're buying a very expensive lottery ticket that also functions as a space heater.

But hey, maybe I'll get lucky and solo mine a block. Probably not. But maybe.

## Current Status

Running Ocean pool, ~400 GH/s, earning about $0.05/day, spending $0.20/day on power.

ROI: never
Fun factor: surprisingly high
Wife approval: low but tolerating