While Bitcoin miners face growing operational challenges, the network’s mining difficulty has reached a new all-time high of 114.17 trillion following a 5.61% increase on February 9, 2025. This marks a significant shift from the previous 2.12% decrease seen at block 880,992, with the average block interval now standing at 9 minutes and 29 seconds.
The network’s current hashrate measures 819.21 exahashes per second, showing a decrease of 32.79 EH/s since February 7, 2025. Despite this slight decline, 73 mining entities continue to contribute substantial computational power, with Foundry maintaining its position as the largest mining pool, processing 257 quintillion hashes per second. The sustainable energy adoption has become increasingly prevalent among mining operations. This activity comes as Bitcoin’s price holds at $97,517, reflecting a 1.23% gain as of February 10, 2025.
Several factors are driving this difficulty surge. The continuous deployment of newer, more efficient mining hardware has increased the network’s overall computational power. Large-scale mining operations are expanding their facilities, while existing miners are upgrading their equipment to stay competitive. The strong Bitcoin price has also encouraged miners to invest more resources into their operations. Miners must solve increasingly complex mathematical problems to successfully validate transactions and earn rewards. The Proof of Work system demands substantial computational resources to maintain network security.
This increased difficulty is reshaping the mining landscape. Smaller miners are finding it harder to maintain profitability as the computational requirements grow more demanding. The rising barrier to entry is making it challenging for new participants to join the network, potentially leading to more concentrated mining power among larger operators.
The network’s heightened difficulty level has strengthened Bitcoin’s security, making it more resistant to potential attacks. In response to these challenges, miners are increasingly seeking out locations with lower electricity costs and exploring renewable energy options to maintain their profit margins.
The next difficulty adjustment is expected in two weeks, with estimates suggesting it will settle around 114.16 trillion, indicating the network’s continued robust growth and adaptation to changing market conditions.
