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.
Charles Edwards, founder and CEO of Capriole Investments, has offered a fresh perspective on Bitcoin’s stalled price movement near the $100,000 mark, despite growing institutional enthusiasm.
Metaplanet has expanded its Bitcoin treasury with a new acquisition of 1,005 BTC valued at approximately $108.1 million, further cementing its status as one of the largest corporate holders of the digital asset.
Despite common fears that global crises spell disaster for crypto markets, new data from Binance Research suggests the opposite may be true — at least for Bitcoin.
A new report by crypto analytics firm Alphractal reveals that Bitcoin miners are facing some of the lowest profitability levels in over a decade — yet have shown little sign of capitulation.