FAQ.
Questions we either got asked, or wish we got asked. Links are deep-linkable — share them freely.
Is this a scam?
No, and we'll prove it: we're openly telling you that this thing will not win. Scams promise wins. We promise vibes. The SatScratcher is a real ESP32 Bitcoin miner running open-source firmware (NMMiner). It hashes Bitcoin the same way any other miner does — just very, very slowly.
Will I actually win Bitcoin?
Technically: yes, maybe. Practically: no. Mathematically: the odds are roughly one in three hundred billion per block attempt. The Bitcoin network produces a block every ten minutes. We leave the full calculation to you as an exercise.
Do I need to know anything about Bitcoin to use this?
Nope. You need to be able to plug in a USB cable and copy-paste a string of text. We wrote a guide that walks you through getting a Bitcoin address in 5 minutes if you've never touched crypto.
What happens if it wins?
We wrote a whole page about this, because we thought it was funny. Short version: the block reward goes to the address you set up, and you owe taxes on it.
How much electricity does this use?
About 1 watt — less than an LED nightlight. Running it 24/7 for a year costs around a dollar in electricity in the US. Cheaper than most hobbies.
Can I return it?
Yes. 30 days, undamaged, in the case. Shipping back is on you. We'll refund the purchase price, no hard feelings. We'd rather have happy customers than reluctant owners.
Is this the same as the ones on Amazon?
The board is similar. The firmware, the branding, the mascot, the setup guide, the quickstart card, and the human who answers support emails are not. You're paying for the thing and the experience of the thing. If you just want a bare board and can handle flashing firmware yourself, Amazon is a valid choice and we won't be offended.
Does it get hot?
Warm, not hot. Safe to leave on 24/7 in a normal room. If it's sitting in direct sunlight inside a sealed case in August, use some judgment.
Can I flash different firmware?
Yes — it's a standard ESP32-2432S028R ("CYD") board. Whatever firmware you can flash to one of those, you can flash to a SatScratcher. We ship it with a lightly-customized NMMiner build, but you own it.
Do you ship internationally?
Not directly from the site yet. Email us and we'll quote you USPS First-Class International. If you're ordering via Etsy, international shipping is already enabled there.