Bitcoin Mining Difficulty Slightly Decreases to 146.4 Trillion
Written by Ohris M. Greyoon, Blockchain & Crypto Expert
Source: Coinmarketcap
Updated: Jan 10 2026- Mining Difficulty Adjustment: Bitcoin network's mining difficulty slightly decreased to 146.4 trillion in the first adjustment of 2026, with the next adjustment expected to increase it to 148.2 trillion on January 22, 2026, thereby intensifying competition and increasing operational pressures on miners.
- Block Time Variation: The current average block time is 9.88 minutes, slightly below the 10-minute target, indicating that the next difficulty adjustment will increase slightly to better align with the target block time, reflecting the network's dynamic adaptability.
- Deteriorating Profit Environment: 2025 is considered the harshest profitability environment for Bitcoin miners on record, as the April halving event slashed block subsidies by 50%, significantly eroding profit margins and exacerbating financial pressures within the industry.
- Market Volatility Impact: Due to macroeconomic and regulatory pressures, coupled with an October flash crash, Bitcoin prices fell to just above $80,000 in November, while miner hash prices dropped below $35 per petahash per second, forcing miners to reconsider their operational viability.
About the author
Ohris M. Greyoon
Ohris M. Greyoon holds a Master’s in Computer Science from MIT and has 10 years of experience in blockchain technology and cryptocurrency markets. A pioneer in decentralized finance (DeFi) analysis, he leads Intellectia’s Crypto News, offering cutting-edge insights into digital assets.
