Bitcoin Difficulty Falls 2.3% as Hashrate Slips Below 1 ZH/s and Block Times Slow
Key Takeaways: What stands out in the latest hashrate dip and difficulty adjustment is that the network’s hashprice climbed from a daily rate of $34.39 per petahash per second (PH/s) to $37.52 per PH/s. Miner earnings improved during this stretch, yet overall computational power continued to drift lower from mid-April through the present period. Block intervals have lengthened, and even after the previous day’s epoch adjustment, they remain slightly behind schedule. The average block time on May 3 stood at roughly 10 minutes 28 seconds. If that tempo persists, another downward adjustment could materialize on May 17, though it remains premature to draw firm conclusions. Miners still have more than 1,800 blocks left to process before that point, leaving ample room for conditions to shift. Over the past week, 987 blocks were produced, with Foundry USA accounting for 311, or 31.51%. Just behind, Antpool uncovered roughly 163 blocks, representing about 16.51% of last week’s total. In third place, ViaBTC identified 102 blocks, securing 10.33% of the network’s total hashrate. Together, these three mining pools account for 58.35% of the network’s total hashrate. Meanwhile, miningpoolstats.stream data reports that 115 distinct entities or pools are currently contributing computational power to the Bitcoin network. As the next adjustment window approaches, miners are navigating a narrow corridor where improved hashprice offers relief, but softer hashrate and slower blocks introduce uncertainty. With more than 1,800 blocks remaining and conditions still in flux, the network’s trajectory into mid-May will depend on whether computational power stabilizes or continues its gradual retreat in the days ahead. Market participants will be watching for directional clarity.About Author
