Here is the quick review and set-up video:
Bitcoin Merch® - Gold Nugget V3 Lottery Miner 1000KH/s
1. Overview and what you need
The Gold Nugget V3 is a small Bitcoin lottery miner from Bitcoin Merch. It mines Bitcoin only, and it comes already set up to use the Bitcoin Merch Lucky Pool, so you only need to give it your Wi-Fi and your Bitcoin address. Setup takes about 5 minutes and happens on your phone.
You will need:
- Your Gold Nugget and its power cable
- A phone (or computer) with Wi-Fi
- Your home Wi-Fi name and password, written down exactly as they are (capital letters matter)
- Your own Bitcoin address (it starts with bc1, 1 or 3), ready to copy and paste
Heads up: The Gold Nugget is a lottery-style solo miner. One small miner has a tiny share of the network, so most days it will not earn anything. If it ever finds a block, the full reward goes to the Bitcoin address you enter in this guide.
2. Before you start: the most common mistakes
Nearly every setup problem comes from one of five mistakes. Read this table first and your Gold Nugget will most likely work on the first try.
|
Mistake |
What happens |
How to avoid it |
|---|---|---|
|
Leaving Bitcoin Merch's address in the Bitcoin address box |
The miner works, but if it finds a block the reward goes to Bitcoin Merch LLC, not you |
Replace it with an address from your own wallet. The page shows a red warning if you do not |
|
Typing the Bitcoin address by hand |
One wrong character makes the address invalid and the miner will not start |
Copy the address from your wallet and paste it. Never type it |
|
Using an address from another coin |
The page says "That doesn't look like a Bitcoin address" |
Use a Bitcoin address that starts with bc1, 1 or 3. Addresses starting with 0x, ltc1 or D are not Bitcoin |
|
Typo in the Wi-Fi password |
The miner cannot join your Wi-Fi |
Turn on Show password and check it before you save |
|
Using a 5 GHz Wi-Fi network |
The miner cannot connect, because the Gold Nugget only uses 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi |
Choose your router's 2.4 GHz network. Section 5 explains what this means in plain words |
3. Safety and placement
- Use the cable and power adapter that came with your Gold Nugget. A different adapter may not give the right power.
- Give it room. Put it on a flat, stable surface with open space around it. Do not cover it or place it in an enclosed space.
- Keep it dry. Avoid damp places, and unplug it before moving it.
- Keep it near the phone or laptop you are using during setup. A short distance helps it connect.
4. Power on and join the setup network
On first start, the Gold Nugget creates its own temporary Wi-Fi network. You use your phone to tell the miner about your home Wi-Fi.
- Plug in the Gold Nugget. The screen lights up.
- Wait for the Gold Nugget Setup screen. It tells you to join a Wi-Fi network on your phone and shows its name, which looks like GoldNugget-XXXX.
- On your phone, open the Wi-Fi settings and join that network. It has no password. You can also scan the Scan to join QR code on the screen with your phone's camera.
- The setup page should open on its own. If it does not, open a browser and go to
192.168.4.1, which is also shown on the screen.
Notes
- Your phone may say this network has no internet. That is normal. Stay connected until setup is finished.
- If the setup page does not open, check that your phone is joined to the GoldNugget network and not your home Wi-Fi.
- If you have an ASUS router, turn off AI Protection in the router settings first. It can block devices from connecting.
5. Setup step 1: Connect to your Wi-Fi
The setup page is called Set up your Gold Nugget, and it has three quick steps. Step 1 is Connect it to your WiFi.
In plain words: what is 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi?
Wi-Fi comes in two kinds, a bit like two lanes on a road. The 5 GHz lane is faster but does not reach far. The 2.4 GHz lane is a little slower but reaches farther and passes through walls better. Your phone and laptop can use either lane. The Gold Nugget only has the 2.4 GHz lane, so it can only join a 2.4 GHz network. Mining does not need a fast connection, so this does not slow it down.
Almost every home router offers both lanes. Often they share one Wi-Fi name and the router picks the right lane for each device, so you may not need to do anything. If the Gold Nugget cannot connect, look for a second name for your Wi-Fi, usually the one without "5G" at the end, and choose that one. Your router's label, its app or your internet provider can tell you the 2.4 GHz name.
Steps
- Under WiFi network, wait a few seconds while it shows "Searching for networks…".
- Tap the list and choose your home Wi-Fi network. Choose the 2.4 GHz one.
- If your network is not in the list, choose Other network… and type its name exactly, including capital letters and spaces.
- Enter your WiFi password exactly as it is written on your router or in your phone's Wi-Fi settings. Capital and small letters are different, and spaces count.
- Tick Show password and check it once before you continue.
If it does not work, check your Wi-Fi first. If your Gold Nugget will not connect, stays on No WiFi, or never reaches Mining, the cause is almost always the Wi-Fi details entered in this step, not the miner. Go back to step 1 and check these, in order:
- The Wi-Fi password has no typo. Turn on Show password and compare it with your router label.
- You chose your 2.4 GHz network, not a 5 GHz one.
- The miner is close to your router, with no thick walls or metal objects in between.
To try again, join the GoldNugget setup network, re-enter the Wi-Fi details, and tap Save and restart.
6. Setup step 2: Put in your Bitcoin address
Step 2 is Put in your Bitcoin address. The box is labeled Your BTC address. If your Gold Nugget finds a block, the reward goes straight to this address.
Get your Bitcoin address ready
- Open your Bitcoin wallet app on your phone or computer.
- Tap Receive. Check that the wallet is set to Bitcoin (BTC), not another coin.
- Tap the Copy button next to the address. Most wallets show a "Copied" message.
- If your wallet is on a different device from the one you are using for setup, send the address to yourself in an email or text message, then copy it from there.
Make sure it is a Bitcoin address, not another coin
A Bitcoin address starts with bc1 (the most common kind), 1 or 3 and is followed by a long mix of letters and numbers. Addresses from other coins look different and will not work:
- 0x is an Ethereum-style address.
- ltc1, L or M is a Litecoin address.
- D is usually a Dogecoin address.
- bitcoincash: is a Bitcoin Cash address.
- Anything that looks like an email address, or starts with lnbc, is a Lightning address. Lightning does not work here.
If you copy a deposit address from an exchange app, pick Bitcoin and the Bitcoin network before you copy it. If you are unsure, ask your wallet or exchange which coin the address is for.
Paste it, do not type it
One wrong character makes the address invalid. Always copy and paste.
- On a phone: touch and hold the Your BTC address box, then tap Paste.
- On a Windows computer: click the box, then press Ctrl and V together.
- On a Mac: click the box, then press Cmd and V together.
- After pasting, compare the first four and last four characters with your wallet, and make sure there is no space at the start or end.
Your Gold Nugget will arrive with Bitcoin Merch's address already in the box. Replace it with your own. If you leave it, a red warning appears that says "This is Bitcoin Merch's address, not yours," and any block your Gold Nugget finds would pay Bitcoin Merch instead of you. Select everything in the box and paste your own address over it.
7. Setup step 3: Time zone, then save
Step 3 is Select your time zone. This only sets the clock on the miner's screen. Your phone's time zone is usually already selected, so check it and change it if it is wrong.
Then tap Save and restart. The Gold Nugget restarts and joins your Wi-Fi, which takes a minute or two.
- If you left Bitcoin Merch's address in the box, the button changes to Keep Bitcoin Merch's address and save. That is a warning. Go back and replace the address with your own.
- If the page says Choose your WiFi network in step 1 or Paste your Bitcoin address in step 2, something is missing. Fill it in and save again.
8. Confirm it is mining
After the restart, look at the miner's screen. It first shows Connecting, then Starting, then Mining.
The screen is a touch screen. Swipe left or right with your finger to move between the screens. The dots at the bottom right show which screen you are on.
Your phone will move back to your normal home Wi-Fi on its own. You can then open the miner's dashboard to check on it:
- On the miner's screen, swipe until you reach the Web Interface screen (screen 4 below). It shows the miner's IP address (for example
192.168.0.233) and a QR code that says Scan to open. - On a phone or computer that is on the same home Wi-Fi, scan the QR code or type the IP address into a browser. Write the IP address down. If your router restarts, it can change, so check the Web Interface screen again if the page stops opening.
- You can also use
http://goldnugget.localinstead of the IP address. If you have more than one Gold Nugget on your network, they all use the same name, so it may open the wrong one or not work at all. In that case, use each miner's own IP address. - The dashboard shows live hashrate, shares accepted, best difficulty, and an estimate of your odds. It is also where you change settings such as your Wi-Fi, Bitcoin address, pool and time zone (see section 10).
What the status means
|
Status |
Meaning |
What to do |
|---|---|---|
|
Mining |
Everything is working |
Nothing. You are done |
|
Starting up / Connecting to the pool |
It is still getting going |
Wait a minute or two |
|
No WiFi |
It cannot reach your Wi-Fi |
See the troubleshooting table |
|
Add your BTC address below |
No address has been saved |
Open the dashboard and add your address under Mining |
|
The pool refused this BTC address |
The address is not a valid Bitcoin address |
Copy the address from your wallet again and replace it |
Your Gold Nugget's screens
The Gold Nugget has several screens. Swipe left or right to move between them. The dots at the bottom right show which screen you are on. Here is what every number means.
Screen 1: Gold Nugget V3 (the main screen)
This is the screen you see most. It shows how your miner is doing.
|
What you see |
What it means |
|---|---|
|
Mining (green dot, top right) |
Your miner is connected and working |
|
Clock (top right) |
The time in the time zone you chose during setup |
|
HASHRATE (big number) |
How fast your miner is working right now. It counts guesses per second. kH/s means thousands per second and MH/s means millions per second. This number bounces around, which is normal |
|
avg (under the picture) |
Your average hashrate over a longer time. This is the steadier number to watch |
|
SHARES |
How many shares the pool has accepted from your miner. A share is proof that your miner is doing real work, so this number should keep climbing |
|
BEST DIFF |
The strongest share your miner has found since it last started. A bigger number means a luckier guess. It is a fun score and does not pay anything by itself |
|
BEST EVER |
The strongest share your miner has ever found, even before the last restart |
|
TOTAL HASHES |
The total number of guesses your miner has made. M means millions |
|
MINING FOR |
How long the miner has been running since it last started |
|
LUCKY SHARES |
Counts rare, extra-strong shares. Seeing 0 is normal for a long time |
The red bar at the bottom. While the miner is still using Bitcoin Merch's address, a red bar reads Set YOUR BTC address followed by the miner's IP address. Type that IP address into a browser on your home Wi-Fi and put in your own Bitcoin address (see section 6). The bar should go away once your own address is saved.
Screen 2: Bitcoin
This screen is a live look at the whole Bitcoin network. These numbers are about Bitcoin in general, not about your miner.
|
What you see |
What it means |
|---|---|
|
BITCOIN PRICE |
The current price of one Bitcoin in US dollars |
|
BLOCK HEIGHT |
How many blocks have been added to the Bitcoin blockchain so far. A new block arrives about every 10 minutes |
|
DIFFICULTY |
How hard Bitcoin makes it to find a block. T means trillion |
|
NETWORK |
The combined power of every Bitcoin miner in the world. ZH means zettahashes per second, an enormous number |
|
NEXT HALVING IN |
A rough time until the block reward is cut in half, which happens about every four years |
|
BLOCKS TO GO |
How many more blocks until the next halving |
Screen 3: My Pool Stats
This screen links your miner to your live stats page on the Bitcoin Merch Lucky Pool.
|
What you see |
What it means |
|---|---|
|
QR code ("Scan for your live stats") |
Scan it with your phone's camera to open your live stats page on the pool |
|
Address under the QR code |
Your Bitcoin address in short form. If it says Bitcoin Merch address, you have not saved your own address yet |
|
POOL BEST |
The strongest share found by your miners on the pool |
|
WORKERS |
How many of your miners are connected to the pool right now |
|
ALL MY MINERS |
The combined hashrate of all your miners using your address. Every extra miner adds to this |
If you are still on Bitcoin Merch's address, these numbers are for that shared address, which is why they can look large. Once you save your own address, they show your miners only.
Screen 4: Web Interface
This screen is how you open the miner's settings from your phone or computer.
|
What you see |
What it means |
|---|---|
|
QR code ("Scan to open") |
Scan it with your phone's camera to open the dashboard |
|
IP address (large yellow numbers) |
The address to type into a browser to open the dashboard |
|
http://goldnugget.local |
Another way to open the dashboard (see the note above about using more than one Gold Nugget) |
|
WiFi |
The Wi-Fi network your miner is on, and its signal strength in dBm. Numbers closer to zero are stronger. Around -30 to -60 is strong, and -80 or lower is weak, so move the miner closer to your router |
|
Chip |
The temperature of the mining chip in degrees Celsius. Mid-50s to 60s is normal while mining |
|
HW |
A technical label for how the chip is running. You can ignore it |
|
Firmware |
The software version installed, and whether it is Up to date or has an update waiting |
If your miner finds a block: the screen shows BLOCK FOUND! and says your Gold Nugget just mined a Bitcoin block. Touch the screen to continue. The reward is paid to the Bitcoin address you saved.
9. The pool: already set for you
Your Gold Nugget comes set to the Bitcoin Merch Lucky Pool, so you do not need to enter any pool details. It has the best compatibility with this miner.
- Open the My Pool Stats page on the miner's screen and scan the QR code to see your live stats on the pool. You need to have added your own Bitcoin address first.
- If you add more Gold Nuggets with the same address, ALL MY MINERS on the screen shows them together, and every extra miner improves your odds.
- Each miner has a name on the pool. You can change Miner name on the pool in the dashboard under Mining.
You only need the next part if you want to use a different pool. Open the dashboard, go to Mining, open Use a different pool, untick Bitcoin Merch Lucky Pool (recommended), enter the pool address and port, and tap Save mining settings. The pool page QR code only works on the Bitcoin Merch Lucky Pool.
10. Optional settings
All of these are in the dashboard, and none are needed to start mining.
- Screen and clock: time zone, 24-hour clock, temperatures in °F, screen brightness, and Flip the screen upside down.
- Screen looks wrong? Try Invert colours, or change the Display type and save. The miner restarts.
- Change WiFi network: under WiFi and device, open Change WiFi network, enter the new name and password, and tap Save and restart.
- Software update: under Software update, tap Check for updates. Do not unplug the miner while it updates. It restarts when it is done.
- Restart: restarts the miner and keeps your settings.
- Erase all settings: wipes your Wi-Fi, address and settings and puts the miner back in setup mode. You have to tap it twice to confirm. After it restarts, repeat sections 4 to 7.
11. Troubleshooting and FAQ
|
Problem |
Likely cause |
What to try |
|---|---|---|
|
Screen stays dark |
Cable or adapter not fully connected |
Reseat the plug and try another outlet |
|
Cannot find the GoldNugget network |
Miner is not in setup mode yet |
Wait a minute for the Gold Nugget Setup screen, then check your Wi-Fi list again |
|
Setup page does not open |
Phone is on another network |
Join the GoldNugget network, then go to |
|
"Couldn't join [name] - check the password" |
Typo in the Wi-Fi name or password |
Open the setup page again, turn on Show password, and re-enter it |
|
Your network is not in the list |
It is a 5 GHz-only network, or too far away |
Use your 2.4 GHz network, move the miner closer to the router, or choose Other network… |
|
"That doesn't look like a Bitcoin address" |
Wrong coin or a typo |
Copy the Bitcoin address again from your wallet. It starts with bc1, 1 or 3 |
|
Red warning that the address is Bitcoin Merch's |
The default address is still in the box |
Replace it with your own address |
|
Dashboard will not open |
Phone is on a different network |
Join your home Wi-Fi, then scan the QR code on the Web Interface screen again |
|
Screen says No WiFi |
The Wi-Fi password changed or the router is off |
Check your router, then use Change WiFi network in the dashboard |
|
Hashrate is zero and the status does not change |
Weak Wi-Fi |
Move the miner closer to the router and restart it |
FAQ
Can I mine other coins with it? No. The Gold Nugget mines Bitcoin only.
Can I use a Lightning address? No. Use a regular Bitcoin address that starts with bc1, 1 or 3.
How do I update the firmware from a file? In the dashboard, open Install from a file and choose the file named goldnugget-x.y.z.bin. Do not use the file with "factory" in its name. That one is for a full reinstall and the miner will refuse it.
Will I earn money with it? Treat it as a lottery ticket. The dashboard shows an estimate of how long a block might take, and it is usually a very long time.
What should I send support? Include your order number, a short description of what happens, a photo of the miner's screen, and a screenshot of the dashboard.
