Bitcoin mining – The Bitcoin network has sent mixed signals in recent days. Mining difficulty—a key indicator of how challenging it is to add new blocks to the blockchain—has fallen in the short term, but data suggests this is only a temporary fluctuation. It is expected to rise again in the next adjustment, which means continued pressure on profitability for miners.
Article Contents – Bitcoin Mining:
Mining difficulty has temporarily dropped
According to CoinWarz data, Bitcoin mining difficulty has dropped to approximately 135.59 trillion (T), representing a slight decrease of 1.1% over 24 hours. At first glance, it might seem that mining conditions are improving.
The reality, however, is more complex. The next automatic difficulty adjustment is estimated for May 1, 2026, at 13:24:54 UTC. As part of this adjustment, the difficulty is expected to rise to roughly 137.43 T. The change is set to occur in approximately 1,865 blocks, or just under two weeks.
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Miners under pressure: costs are rising, profits are vanishing
Bitcoin mining has faced an exceptionally challenging period over the past year. A combination of several factors is fundamentally changing the economics of the entire industry. The main problems include reduced block rewards following the halving, rising energy prices, the lingering effects of the bear market, and geopolitical turmoil.
These factors are directly impacting the financial performance of mining companies. In many cases, the cost of mining a single bitcoin is approaching or even exceeding its current market price.
Record Bitcoin Sell-offs
One of the most visible signs of pressure on the sector is the massive selling of bitcoins by publicly traded mining companies. According to data from TheEnergyMag, these companies sold more BTC in the first quarter of 2026 than they did in all of 2025 combined.
Specifically, these include companies such as MARA, CleanSpark, Riot, Cango, Core Scientific, and Bitdeer, which together sold over 32,000 BTC. This surpassed the previous record set in the second quarter of 2022, when approximately 20,000 BTC were sold during the collapse of the Terra-Luna ecosystem.
Miners traditionally sell bitcoins to cover operating costs denominated in fiat currencies. Currently, however, this is not just standard practice but often a matter of survival.
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Up to a fifth of miners are operating at a loss
According to a CoinShares report for the first quarter of 2026, up to 20% of miners are operating at a loss under current conditions. The sector is thus teetering on the edge of profitability.
CoinShares analysts note that the fourth quarter of 2025 was already the toughest for miners since the halving in April 2024. The situation was exacerbated at the time by a sharp drop in the price of Bitcoin—from approximately $125,000 in October 2025 to roughly $86,000 in December of the same year.
What to Expect Next
The short-term drop in difficulty cannot therefore be viewed as a major relief. If expectations of further growth are met, the pressure on miners will continue. A key role will be played not only by the price of Bitcoin, but also by developments in energy costs and the technological efficiency of mining hardware.
The current situation shows that Bitcoin mining is no longer a “gold rush” with guaranteed profits. On the contrary, it is becoming a highly competitive and capital-intensive industry where only the most efficient will survive.
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