Bitcoin mining difficulty rises by 3.87%

Bitcoin mining difficulty increased by 3.87% at block height 943488, marking the third upward adjustment in 2026. The increase comes amid declining hashrate and worsening mining economics. The shift highlights growing pressure on the crypto mining sector.

Source: CloverPool

Network records third difficulty increase in 2026

Following a 7.76% decrease in the previous epoch, Bitcoin mining difficulty has moved higher by 3.87%. So far in 2026, the network has recorded seven adjustments three increases and four decreases. The current difficulty now stands at 138.97 trillion times higher than at launch.

At the time of writing:

• 181 out of 2,016 blocks have been mined;
• the network is about 9% into the current epoch.

The next adjustment is expected on April 19, 2026. Current estimates suggest a possible 14.27% decrease.

Declining hashrate drives recent adjustments

The main driver behind the shift is a decline in network hashrate. In late March, Bitcoin’s hashrate exceeded 1,022 EH/s, but has since dropped to 961.55 EH/s.

At the same time, block production has slowed. The average block time increased to 11 minutes and 39 seconds, above the expected 10-minute target.

Several factors contributed to this trend:

• reduced mining profitability;
• rising electricity costs;
• shift toward AI and HPC infrastructure.

Hashprice remains low at around $30.67 per PH/s, near historical lows. Transaction fees account for only 0.56% of the block reward, offering limited support.

Market shifts toward consolidation and stronger competition

The current environment indicates increasing pressure on the mining industry. Lower revenues and higher costs may force less efficient operators to exit.

Key implications include:

• declining hashrate;
• stronger market consolidation;
• dominance of efficient operators.

However, Bitcoin’s difficulty adjustment mechanism provides a balancing effect. As miners leave, difficulty decreases, restoring incentives.

In the short term, mining remains highly sensitive to BTC price and energy costs.

Mining industry shifts toward a more complex economic model

The situation reflects a shift toward a more complex economic model for Bitcoin mining. Profitability is becoming less stable, while efficiency requirements increase.

Key trends include:

• growing importance of low-cost energy;
• adoption of more efficient hardware;
• diversification into AI infrastructure.

With over 100,000 blocks remaining until the next halving, pressure on miners is expected to continue.

As a result, the industry is adapting to new conditions. Only operators with efficient cost structures and flexible strategies are likely to remain competitive.

Read also: Bitcoin hashrate fell in Q1 for the first time in six years