Bitcoin Hashrate Reclaims One Zettahash As Mining Competition Rebounds

TL;DR: BlocksBridge reported Bitcoin’s seven-day hashrate above one zettahash in the week to October 22. Mining competition has recovered despite companies shifting some infrastructure toward AI. A mining company can switch strategy without making Bitcoin mining any easier for the businesses that remain. New network data puts that distinction in focus. In its October 22 Miner Weekly report, BlocksBridge Consulting said the network’s seven-day average hashrate had recovered above one zettahash per second, its highest level since March 3. One zettahash is equivalent to 1,000 exahashes per second. The report also recorded a 5.92% increase in mining difficulty on October 16. Together, the figures show that announcements about individual operators leaving mining cannot be treated as a direct measure of network-wide competition. A Mining Exit Does Not Necessarily Remove The Machines BlocksBridge’s analysis separates a site’s future use from the fate of the equipment installed there. A facility can shift toward AI infrastructure while Bitcoin mining machines are sold or relocated, allowing them to contribute computing power elsewhere. That distinction does not establish where every additi...