Bitcoin Mining Difficulty Leaps 15% – Largest Rise Since 2021 Despite Price Pressure
Bitcoin's mining difficulty has surged 15% to 144.4 trillion, marking the biggest single adjustment since 2021. This hash rate boom persists even as BTC prices slump amid extreme market fear. Miners face heightened scrutiny on costs and network dynamics.
Pawnie's Web3 recap flags the 15% difficulty jump on February 20, 2026, the largest since 2021, coinciding with whale accumulation of over 70,000 BTC in February – the biggest monthly inflow since 2022. Bitcoin Magazine echoes this, highlighting the spike amid ongoing volatility. MEXC reports a precise 14.7% rise to 144.4T, reflecting robust hashrate despite hash prices dipping below $30. Medium analyst Nitesh Padghan describes it as a 'mechanical snapback' after turbulent months, warning of darker implications like miner capitulation risks. ForkLog notes the rebound post-adjustment, underscoring operational pressures as more computing power joins the network. TradingView details how this elevates block discovery challenges, potentially squeezing margins for smaller operators. Bitcoin Magazine further contextualizes with BTC's 50% slide discussions, yet hashrate resilience points to long-term confidence. Kitco forums buzz with miner talks on centralization, as efficient players dominate. This adjustment follows sustained network growth, with Lightning Network hitting $1B monthly volume separately.
Elevated difficulty hikes operational costs, pressuring less efficient miners and risking centralization toward major pools. For crypto miners, it could trigger supply squeezes on new BTC, bolstering price floors long-term but demanding efficiency upgrades now. Broader market may see stabilized security amid volatility.
Bitcoin's difficulty surge underscores network strength but cautions miners on adaptation. With whale buying and institutional flows, resilience prevails. Miners who innovate will thrive in this high-stakes environment.