How to Set Up Bittensor Miner: Beginner's Guide to Subnet Mining

Getting Started with Bittensor Mining

Mining on Bittensor subnets allows you to earn TAO rewards by providing AI services or computational resources. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to start mining, from hardware selection to optimization strategies.

Successful Bittensor miners can earn 1-10+ TAO per day depending on subnet, hardware, and performance. Top performers on high-emission subnets like Subnet 1 can earn significantly more.

Understanding Bittensor Mining

Unlike traditional cryptocurrency mining, Bittensor mining involves:

• Providing AI services (text generation, compute, data processing)
• Having your work evaluated by validators
• Earning rewards based on quality and performance
• Competing with other miners for subnet emissions

Hardware Requirements

Minimum Requirements (Entry Level)

• CPU: 4+ cores, 2.5GHz+ (Intel i5/AMD Ryzen 5 or better)
• RAM: 16GB minimum, 32GB recommended
• Storage: 100GB+ SSD (NVMe preferred)
• GPU: NVIDIA GTX 1660 or better (6GB+ VRAM)
• Network: Stable internet connection, 10Mbps+ upload
• OS: Ubuntu 22.04 LTS or Windows 11

Recommended Setup (Competitive)

• CPU: 8+ cores, 3.0GHz+ (Intel i7/AMD Ryzen 7 or better)
• RAM: 64GB (32GB minimum for most subnets)
• GPU: NVIDIA RTX 3090/4090 or A6000 (24GB+ VRAM)
• Storage: 500GB+ NVMe SSD
• Network: 100Mbps+ with low latency
• Power: 750W+ PSU for high-end GPUs

Step-by-Step Setup Guide

Step 1: Choose Your Subnet

Research different subnets to find one that matches your hardware and interests:

• Text Subnets (1, 18, 19): Require GPU with 8GB+ VRAM, NLP knowledge
• Compute Subnets (4, 11): Need high-end GPUs, CUDA expertise
• Data Subnets (5, 9): Less GPU-intensive, more storage-focused

Use Taostats.io to compare emissions, competition, and dTAO prices.

Step 2: Install Operating System

Most miners use Ubuntu 22.04 LTS for best compatibility. You can:

• Install on dedicated hardware
• Use a VPS (Hetzner, AWS, etc.)
• Set up on cloud GPU services (Vast.ai, RunPod)

# Download Ubuntu 22.04 LTS
# Create bootable USB and install
# Or use cloud provider with pre-configured images

Step 3: Install System Dependencies

Set up your system with required packages:

# Update system
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

# Install essential packages
sudo apt install -y python3-pip python3-venv git curl wget build-essential

# Install CUDA (for NVIDIA GPUs)
# Download from NVIDIA website or use:
wget https://developer.download.nvidia.com/compute/cuda/repos/ubuntu2204/x86_64/cuda-keyring_1.1-1_all.deb
sudo dpkg -i cuda-keyring_1.1-1_all.deb
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get -y install cuda

# Install Bittensor
pip3 install bittensor --upgrade

Step 4: Set Up Bittensor Wallet

Create or import your Bittensor wallet. You'll need TAO tokens for registration fees (typically 1-2 TAO):

# Create new wallet
btcli wallet new_coldkey --wallet.name my_wallet
btcli wallet new_hotkey --wallet.name my_wallet --wallet.hotkey my_hotkey

# Or import existing wallet
btcli wallet import --wallet.name my_wallet

Step 5: Install Subnet-Specific Software

Each subnet has its own miner software. Example for Subnet 1 (Text Prompting):

# Clone the miner repository
git clone https://github.com/opentensor/text-prompting
cd text-prompting

# Create virtual environment
python3 -m venv venv
source venv/bin/activate

# Install dependencies
pip install -r requirements.txt
pip install torch torchvision torchaudio --index-url https://download.pytorch.org/whl/cu118

Step 6: Configure Your Miner

Edit the configuration file with your settings:

# Example config.yaml
wallet:
  name: my_wallet
  hotkey: my_hotkey

subnet:
  netuid: 1  # Subnet ID

miner:
  device: cuda  # or cpu
  batch_size: 4
  max_length: 512

Step 7: Register on Subnet

Register your miner on the chosen subnet. This requires TAO tokens (typically 1-2 TAO):

# Register miner
btcli subnet register \
  --netuid 1 \
  --wallet.name my_wallet \
  --wallet.hotkey my_hotkey

# Check registration status
btcli wallet overview --wallet.name my_wallet

Step 8: Start Mining

Launch your miner and monitor performance:

# Start miner
python neurons/miner.py --config config.yaml

# Or run in background with screen/tmux
screen -S miner
python neurons/miner.py --config config.yaml
# Press Ctrl+A then D to detach

Optimizing Mining Performance

Hardware Optimization

• GPU Overclocking: Safely overclock GPU for 5-10% performance boost
• Memory Optimization: Use faster RAM and optimize batch sizes
• Cooling: Maintain optimal temperatures for consistent performance
• Power Settings: Use high-performance power profiles

Software Optimization

• Batch Sizing: Optimize batch sizes for your GPU memory
• Model Selection: Use efficient models that balance quality and speed
• Response Time: Minimize latency to validators
• Uptime: Keep miner online 24/7 for maximum rewards

Network Optimization

• Use wired connection instead of WiFi
• Ensure low latency to validator nodes
• Monitor bandwidth usage
• Set up failover connections

Monitoring and Maintenance

Regular monitoring is essential for successful mining:

• Check Logs Daily: Look for errors or warnings
• Monitor Rewards: Track daily TAO earnings
• Validator Responses: Ensure validators are responding
• System Resources: Monitor GPU/CPU usage and temperatures
• Update Software: Keep miner and dependencies updated

# Monitor GPU usage
nvidia-smi -l 1

# Check miner logs
tail -f logs/miner.log

# Monitor network
btcli wallet overview --wallet.name my_wallet

Common Issues and Solutions

Low Rewards

Possible Causes:

• High subnet competition
• Poor validator responses
• Suboptimal model performance
• Network connectivity issues

Solutions: Improve model quality, optimize response times, consider switching subnets

Connection Errors

Possible Causes:

• Firewall blocking connections
• Network instability
• Validator node issues

Solutions: Check firewall rules, test network connectivity, verify validator status

High GPU Usage / Overheating

Solutions:

• Reduce batch sizes
• Lower model precision (use float16 instead of float32)
• Improve cooling (better fans, lower ambient temperature)
• Underclock GPU if needed

Registration Failures

Solutions:

• Ensure sufficient TAO balance
• Check subnet registration status
• Verify wallet configuration
• Wait for network confirmation

Advanced Mining Strategies

Strategy 1: Multi-Subnet Mining

Run miners on multiple subnets simultaneously to diversify income. Requires multiple GPUs or efficient resource allocation.

Strategy 2: Specialization

Focus on one subnet and become a top performer. Higher rankings = better rewards.

Strategy 3: Cost Optimization

Use cloud GPU services during off-peak hours, or optimize hardware for efficiency over raw power.

Expected Earnings

Earnings vary significantly by subnet and performance:

• Subnet 1 (Text): 2-8 TAO/day for competitive miners
• Subnet 18 (Text-to-Text): 1.5-6 TAO/day
• Subnet 4 (Compute): 1-4 TAO/day
• Newer Subnets: 0.5-2 TAO/day but less competition

Conclusion

Mining on Bittensor requires patience, optimization, and continuous learning. Start with a subnet that matches your hardware, monitor performance closely, and gradually improve your setup. The most successful miners combine technical expertise with consistent uptime and quality service delivery.

Remember: Mining is competitive. Stay updated with subnet changes, network updates, and optimization techniques. Join subnet Discord communities to learn from experienced miners.