The problem of the Bitcoin network will decrease slightly after the first adjustment of 2026
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Bitcoin mining difficulty hit a record low in 2026 with the network's first problem adjustment, giving miners a brief respite after a year marked by intense competition and shrinking margins.
Key Takeaways:
In the year Bitcoin mining difficulty has been slightly lowered in the first correction of 2026.
Faster blocking times indicate a sharp increase later this month.
Despite a brief reprieve, mining profitability remains under pressure.
The correction, which was completed on Thursday, lowered the problem to 146.4 trillion, reflecting modest changes in network conditions at the beginning of the year.
After the blocks run faster than the target, Bitcoin's problem arises
Mining difficulty measures how difficult it is to add a new block to Bitcoin's blockchain, and is calculated every two weeks to keep block production close to its 10-minute target.
Average block times during the adjustment period were running at around 9.88 minutes, slightly faster than the protocol goal.
As a result, the next reform is expected to change the course. Data from CoinWarz predicts the next correction on January 22nd, which will raise the problem to around 148.2 trillion.
Despite the recent dip, Bitcoin mining difficulty is historically high. The measure rose steadily through 2025, reaching record levels before easing at the end of the year.
Even after the recent changes, difficulty remains below the estimated peak of 155.9 trillion set in November, but competition among miners remains strong.
A higher risk underlines the pressure on the mining sector following a difficult 2025 scenario. With the 2024 halving of rewards and worsening macroeconomic conditions, the mining sector faces many of the toughest profit environments on record.
Those pressures intensified during the crypto market crash that began late last year.
Profitability metrics reflected the squeeze. The price of a miner's hash, which tracks the expected revenue per unit of computing power, fell below a record low in November.
Industry data shows the figure has fallen below $35 per petahash per day, well below the $40 level many operators see as the threshold for sustainable operations.
External factors exacerbated the challenge. New U.S. tariffs under President Donald Trump have threatened the mining supply chain, and a sharp market selloff in October triggered a broader crypto decline.
In November, the price of bitcoin fell more than 30%, briefly falling above $80,000.
Research Challenges Criticism of Bitcoin Mining Energy
According to a detailed analysis by independent researcher Daniel Batten, bitcoin mining strengthens electricity networks and lowers electricity costs for consumers, rather than disrupting power systems.
His research challenges common claims that mining disrupts grids or increases energy costs, using peer-reviewed research and operational data to demonstrate that the industry's dynamic energy use has measurable systemic benefits.
Meanwhile, due to pressure on the mining industry, Bitmain has been significantly reducing the price of its Bitcoin mining hardware for several generations, according to recent promotional campaigns and internal price lists distributed to customers.
A promotion on December 23 offered a bundled package of four S19 XP+ Hydro units with an ANTRACK V2 container, representing a value of approximately $4 per unit for 19 J/TH machines.
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