Bitcoin Mining Difficulty Soars to All-Time High, Pressures Miners

Bitcoin mining difficulty has surged to an all-time high following five consecutive increases since the May halving. Average block times have slowed from around 9.9 minutes to over 11 minutes, and the network’s hashrate briefly topped 1 zettahash per second before retreating to 961 exahashes. Meanwhile, transaction fees have fallen to their lowest level in over a decade, squeezing miner profitability. Rising Bitcoin mining difficulty underscores network security and resilience. Major mining pools now control a large share of hash power, raising centralization and 51% attack concerns. Combined with halved block rewards and rising operational costs, older rigs face shutdowns, while efficient miners with modern ASICs and cheap electricity consolidate market share. Profit pressures may prompt miners to liquidate holdings, adding short-term sell pressure. Traders should monitor hashrate trends, miner balance sheets and network security signals for market impact.