The Bitcoin network has kicked off the year by reaching a groundbreaking milestone, as its mining difficulty hit an all-time high.
On January 12, the metric increased by 0.61%, climbing to an unprecedented 110.45 trillion at block height 878,976.
This achievement marks the continuation of a notable trend, with mining difficulty rising for eight consecutive adjustments. Such a sustained streak hasn’t been seen since 2021, when the network experienced nine straight upward revisions.
The past year proved transformative for Bitcoin mining, as difficulty surged by nearly 50%, surpassing the 100 trillion mark for the first time. Of the 27 adjustments recorded in 2024, 18 were positive, signaling a robust recovery for miners despite the challenges posed by the fourth halving, which reduced block rewards to 3.125 BTC.
Industry observers expect this momentum to persist, driven by miners’ efforts to leverage growing global interest in Bitcoin. As the network evolves, it continues to set new benchmarks, reflecting both its resilience and the increasing competition among miners.
Eric Trump is positioning himself at the center of Bitcoin’s next major frontier—mining.
Mubadala Investment Company, one of Abu Dhabi’s largest state-backed investors, has been quietly deepening its position in BlackRock’s flagship Bitcoin ETF—even as the market cooled in early 2025.
Bitcoin’s rise past $104,000 this year hasn’t silenced its skeptics. In fact, 2025 has already seen 11 new “death” claims — public declarations that the cryptocurrency is doomed — surpassing last year’s total.
Economist and gold advocate Peter Schiff has renewed his criticism of the crypto market, but this time, his focus isn’t just Bitcoin—it’s the growing trend of companies whose business models revolve entirely around holding the digital asset.