Bitcoin Mining Hits Record Difficulty: 5.07% Increase at Block 818,496

Published 26/11/2023, 12:33
© Reuters Bitcoin Mining Hits Record Difficulty: 5.07% Increase at Block 818,496
BTC/USD
-

Coin Edition -

  • Bitcoin’s mining difficulty has reached an all-time high, making it more challenging to mine new blocks.
  • The network’s hash rate has increased to 504.63 exa-hashes per second.
  • Previously, the Bitcoin network experienced a one-hour block production disruption.

The Bitcoin network has recently hit a significant milestone regarding the difficulty level of mining a new block. In particular, according to statistics from Bitcoin Blockchain Explorer, BTC experienced a mining difficulty adjustment at block height 818,496. This adjustment has increased the mining difficulty by 5.07%, reaching a new high of 67.96 tera-hashes per second.

The prominent Chinese reporter Colin Wu called attention to this development in a recent statement on the X platform.

Significantly, the recent adjustment suggests that mining new blocks is now 5.07% more challenging than the previous adjustment period on November 12. This is because the network hash rate, which measures the total computing power dedicated to mining Bitcoin, has increased. Per Bitcoin Explorer, the current average hash rate for the entire network is now at 504.8 exa-hashes per second (EH/s), compared to 486.50 EH/s recorded fourteen days ago.

It is worth noting that mining difficulty adjustments occur regularly to maintain a consistent block addition rate to the blockchain, typically around every 10 minutes for Bitcoin. When more miners join the network, the difficulty rises to uphold this timeframe, and conversely, if miners exit, the difficulty decreases.

Emphatically, a higher hash rate intensifies the challenge of mining new blocks as it results in increased competition to solve the cryptographic puzzle necessary for block creation. Notably, the next Bitcoin mining difficulty adjustment will occur on December 10, at block height 820,512.

Early this month, the Bitcoin network encountered a significant temporary disruption in block production, marked by a notable pause lasting over an hour. As per Bitcoin’s dedicated blockchain explorer, a delay occurred on November 7, during which the network did not produce a block between 16:47 and 17:56 (UTC+8).

The post Bitcoin Mining Hits Record Difficulty: 5.07% Increase at Block 818,496 appeared first on Coin Edition.

Read more on Coin Edition

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.