I just wrapped a livestream showing how I live on Bitcoin, mine at home, and get direct Lightning payouts straight to my own node. Here’s a summary for anyone curious about self-custodial mining and instant payouts.
Watch the full livestream here: https://youtube.com/live/9yWgHtyhtZY
Key Takeaways
You don’t need huge ASICs to start. I use a small DIY miner (Bitaxe) and a beginner-friendly Avalon Nano 3S. Small-scale mining lets you stack sats while learning how Bitcoin’s infrastructure works.
I’m looking at the Avalon Mini 3 (works as a space heater + miner) and the Avalon Q (professional-grade home miner). Both can increase hash rate without massive electricity costs.
This is the crucial part: my miners point to Braiins Pool, which allows direct Lightning payouts. Pool mining gives steady, predictable Bitcoin rewards — unlike solo mining, which is more like a lottery.
Direct Lightning Payouts via Umbrel + AlbyHub
- Braiins Pool collects the mining output and sends it straight to my Umbrel node via Lightning.
- Alby Hub automatically generates Lightning invoices, so payouts go directly to self-custody with zero fees.
No third-party custody, no on-chain fees, and payouts are instant.
Even small miners may not produce huge daily profits, but you’re converting electricity into Bitcoin that appreciates over time. It’s educational, hands-on, and fully sovereign.
If you want to experiment with mining and get direct Lightning payouts, this setup is a great start.
Connect your miners to Braiins Pool, route payouts through Umbrel + Alby Hub, and maintain full control of your Bitcoin.
Nittany out!