Bitcoin mining difficulty drops 2.3% after adjustment

The Bitcoin network difficulty declined by 2.3% following an adjustment at block 947520. The change comes as hashrate trends lower since mid-April. At the same time, rising mining profitability is sending mixed signals to market participants.

Source: CloverPool

Network records another difficulty decline

The latest difficulty adjustment took place on May 1, 2026. It marks the sixth downward adjustment out of nine epochs this year. After the update, network difficulty stands at 132.47 trillion. This level is expected to remain in place until around May 17.

At the time of the adjustment, hashrate was approximately 899 EH/s. Over the past 24 hours, it ranged between 899 and 958 EH/s. Earlier in April, the network briefly exceeded 1,000 EH/s before beginning a gradual decline. This trend reflects a reduction in overall computational power.

Falling hashrate impacts network difficulty

The decrease in difficulty is linked to the drop in hashrate and slower block production. Since mid-April, the network has seen a gradual decline in computing activity. The average block time has increased to around 10 minutes and 28 seconds.

Despite this slowdown, mining profitability has improved. Hashprice rose from $34.39 to $37.52 per PH/s per day. This indicates that miners are earning more per unit of power, even as total network activity declines.

This creates a mixed environment. Higher profitability supports miners, but declining hashrate may signal structural changes in the industry. The combination of these factors makes future network trends less predictable.

Miners may adjust strategies

Current conditions could influence miner behavior and network structure. Longer block intervals suggest temporary inefficiencies. If the trend continues, another downward difficulty adjustment may occur in the next cycle.

Hashrate distribution also remains concentrated. Over the past week, 987 blocks were mined, with major pools controlling a significant share of total power.

Key network metrics include:

• difficulty at 132.47 trillion
• hashrate between 899–958 EH/s
• hashprice at $37.52 per PH/s
• average block time of 10 minutes 28 seconds

These indicators show a market balancing between improved earnings and reduced computational strength.

Industry enters uncertain phase

The current environment highlights the balance between profitability and miner participation. Rising hashprice provides short-term support. However, declining hashrate suggests cautious behavior among operators.

More than 1,800 blocks remain before the next adjustment. This leaves room for conditions to change. The direction of hashrate will be a key factor in determining future network dynamics.

Overall, the industry is navigating a period of uncertainty. The next phase will depend on whether computational power stabilizes or continues to decline. Market participants are closely watching these indicators, as they directly impact mining economics.

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