4 min read · Updated 2026-10-25
The difficulty adjustment
Bitcoin adjusts its mining difficulty every 2,016 blocks, about every two weeks, to keep the average time between blocks near ten minutes regardless of how much hashrate is on the network.
The rule
The network compares how long the last 2,016 blocks took with the target of two weeks. If they were faster, difficulty goes up. If slower, it goes down.
Why it exists
Without it, more hashrate would mean faster blocks and faster issuance. The adjustment keeps issuance predictable.
What it means for miners
When difficulty rises, the same hashrate earns a smaller share of rewards. When hashrate leaves the network, difficulty falls with a delay.
Frequently asked questions
How often does it change?
Every 2,016 blocks, roughly every two weeks.
Can difficulty go down?
Yes, if blocks were slower than the target.
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