Bitcoin Mining Difficulty Starts 2026 With a Small Reset

[bonk]

The Bitcoin network mining difficulty. Source: CryptoQuant

Bitcoin mining difficulty dipped slightly to 146.4 trillion in the first adjustment of 2026, reflecting marginally faster block production at the end of last year. Average block times are currently just under the 10-minute target, setting the stage for a modest difficulty increase later in January to rebalance the network.

While the adjustment is minor, it highlights how tightly calibrated Bitcoin’s mining system is. Even small shifts in hash power can trigger automatic changes, ensuring the network remains secure and predictable regardless of market conditions.

[cryptobro]

wild how even a “dip” in difficulty is still insanely high by any historical standard