The Opentensor Foundation is seeking new miners to join the Bittensor decentralized AI network. Bittensor is a blockchain-based machine learning network where “miners” contribute computational power and produce AI-driven outputs (such as model predictions or data services) in exchange for rewards in the network’s native TAO cryptocurrency. This is a fully remote, permissionless opportunity – open to technically proficient individuals worldwide, from entry-level enthusiasts to seasoned AI/ML engineers. If you’re excited about contributing to a cutting-edge decentralized AI platform and earning crypto rewards for your work, we invite you to read on and apply your skills!

Bittensor is often described as a decentralized “mining” network for artificial intelligence. Unlike traditional crypto mining (which simply validates blocks), Bittensor miners perform useful computational tasks: for example, generating text completions, translating language, or other AI services depending on the subnet they join. These contributions – essentially digital commodities in the form of AI model outputs – are evaluated by specialized nodes called validators, and rewards are distributed accordingly. Miners are thus key participants in the network, providing compute and knowledge to power a “pure market for artificial intelligence” in a trustless, open environment.

Key Points:

• Subnets: The Bittensor network is composed of multiple subnets, each focused on a specific AI task or service (e.g. LLM inference, translation, storage, vision, etc.). As a miner, you will choose one or more subnets to join based on your hardware capabilities and interests. All mining activity occurs within subnets, where miners compete to produce the best outputs for the task at hand.
• Incentives: Bittensor’s blockchain issues TAO tokens continuously (one TAO every 12 seconds, ~7200 TAO/day) to reward participants. Miners earn a portion of these emissions (approximately 41% is allocated to miners network-wide) based on the quality of their work as judged by validators. In short, better performance = more TAO rewards.

As a Bittensor Subnet Miner, your responsibilities will include:

• Running a Bittensor Miner Node: Set up and operate a Bittensor mining node on your hardware (Linux-based). Your node will connect to a chosen subnet and generate AI outputs in response to requests (e.g. answer prompts, provide model inferences). This is an active and creative form of mining – your node is effectively a small AI server that contributes useful work to the network.
• Ensuring High-Quality Output: Continuously strive to produce accurate, relevant, and fast responses as required by the subnet’s task. Validators will test and score your node’s outputs, directly influencing your rewards. You may need to adjust models or settings to improve output quality over time.
• Maintaining Uptime and Performance: Keep your miner node running reliably 24/7. Bittensor is a competitive environment – if your performance falls too low compared to peers, your miner can be deregistered (removed) from the subnet and replaced by a new miner. To avoid this, you’ll monitor your node’s performance metrics (rank, trust scores, TAO emission rate) and optimize as needed, ensuring you meet or exceed the subnet’s standards.
• Selecting and Updating Models: (Optional but encouraged) Leverage machine learning frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow, etc.) to run or fine-tune models that are well-suited to your subnet’s task. Miners who can adapt or develop their own ML models for the task tend to be more competitive and achieve higher rewards. That said, pre-trained models and default scripts are available for those just starting out.

Technical Skills

• Linux Proficiency: Ability to work in a Linux environment (Ubuntu 20.04/22.04 or similar). Bittensor mining nodes run on Linux (mining is not supported on Windows, so you should be comfortable with command-line operations, shell scripting, and basic system administration.
• Docker & Containerization: Familiarity with Docker is required for setting up Bittensor nodes. Miners are typically deployed in Docker containers for consistency and ease of installation. You should know how to install Docker and run containerized services on your machine.
• Python Programming: Bittensor’s tooling and miner implementations are largely in Python. You don’t need to be a software engineer, but you should understand Python basics to configure miner software, install dependencies, and possibly tweak code or models. Experience with Python package management and virtual environments is a plus.
• Basic DevOps Skills: General experience with software installation, using Git/GitHub, and debugging runtime issues will be very helpful. You might be compiling machine learning libraries, adjusting environment variables, or reading logs. A developer or DevOps mindset will make the process smoother.

Hardware:

• GPU (Graphics Processing Unit): A dedicated NVIDIA GPU (or equivalent high-performance accelerator) is highly recommended. Most Bittensor subnets require some form of GPU to handle machine learning inference or training tasks. Modern GPUs with ample VRAM are ideal – for instance, an NVIDIA RTX 3080/3090 or RTX 40-series card for consumer-grade, or data-center GPUs like NVIDIA A100, H100 for top-end performance. The better your GPU, the faster and more complex model outputs you can compute, which directly improves your competitiveness.

How to Get Started

If you’re interested in becoming a miner on the Bittensor network, here are the next steps:

1. Learn More & Prepare: Visit the official Bittensor Documentation docs.bittensor.com to understand the mining process in detail. The docs include step-by-step guides for setting up a wallet, selecting a subnet, and running a miner node. Ensure you meet the technical prerequisites (Linux environment, Docker, hardware ready).
2. Join the Community: We highly recommend joining the Bittensor community on Discord and other channels. There you can ask questions, get real-time help, and connect with other miners who can share tips.
3. Set Up Your Miner: Follow the guides to install the Bittensor mining software (the Bittensor CLI and SDK in Python) and register your miner on a subnet of your choice. (Note: registering a miner requires a small TAO fee as “stake” to secure a spot, which is a sunk cost– the documentation explains how this works and how to acquire the needed TAO to start.)
4. Run and Monitor: Start your miner and let it begin handling tasks! You can monitor your miner’s status and earnings using CLI commands (e.g., check your rank and emissions with btcli wallet overview) or community-built dashboards (like Tao Stats). Keep an eye on performance and make adjustments as you gain experience.
5. Iterate and Optimize: Treat this as an iterative process. Especially for newcomers – don’t be discouraged if earnings are small at first. Use it as a learning opportunity. Over time, you can upgrade hardware, try different subnets, or improve your models to increase your success. The Foundation and community are continuously improving the ecosystem, and you’ll have front-row access to these innovations.

Compensation – TAO Rewards

Instead of a traditional salary, Bittensor miners are compensated in TAO, the native cryptocurrency token of the network.

Ready to embark on this journey at the intersection of AI and blockchain? Come join the Bittensor network as a miner and earn TAO while contributing to decentralized AI! The Opentensor Foundation is excited to welcome new miners into our global community. Whether you’re a solo operator with a single rig or part of a group looking to contribute significant compute power, there’s a place for you in Bittensor’s growing AI marketplace.