Bitcoin Mining Hits a Crossroads as Difficulty Hovers Near the Floor

Bitcoin Miners Keep Losing Ground

Bitcoin mining is now 1.31% easier than it was the day before, and the full-year scorecard shows miners have spent more time losing ground than gaining it. From the first adjustment of 2026 through the latest at block 963648, Bitcoin has recorded ten downward difficulty adjustments against just seven increases.

More importantly, the losses have repeatedly dwarfed the rebounds that followed. Difficulty entered 2026 near 148.25 trillion before the Jan. 8 adjustment and now sits at 125.81 trillion, leaving Bitcoin’s mining difficulty roughly 15.1% below the level immediately before the year’s first adjustment. The real tell is where Bitcoin’s difficulty landed after all that whiplash.

Nearly Every Difficulty Comeback Has Been Erased

Difficulty cratered to 124.93 trillion on June 13, the lowest reading in 2026. It clawed back to 133.87 trillion, fell to 127.17 trillion, slipped again to 126.23 trillion, bounced to 127.48 trillion and has now retreated to 125.81 trillion. That leaves today’s difficulty barely 0.7% above the 2026 low. Put differently, almost every meaningful comeback miners managed since June has been wiped off the board.

Roughly 150 EH/s of Mining Power Disappears