5 min read · Updated 2026-10-25
Hashrate, difficulty and the halving
Three numbers describe the health of Bitcoin mining: how much computing power is running, how hard the puzzle is, and how much a block pays.
Hashrate
Hashrate is the number of hash computations per second. It is measured in terahashes (TH/s), petahashes (PH/s) or exahashes (EH/s). One EH/s is one million TH/s. A single modern ASIC delivers roughly 100 to 300 TH/s, while the whole network runs at hundreds of EH/s.
Difficulty adjustment
The protocol aims for one block every ten minutes. Every 2,016 blocks, about two weeks, it compares the real time taken with the target and raises or lowers the difficulty accordingly. More hashrate makes the puzzle harder; less hashrate makes it easier.
The halving
Every 210,000 blocks the block subsidy is cut in half. It started at 50 BTC in 2009 and has been 3.125 BTC since April 2024. This schedule is why Bitcoin's supply is capped at 21 million.
Why it matters to miners
Your share of the network is your hashrate divided by the total. When difficulty rises or the subsidy halves, the same machine earns less, so efficiency and electricity price decide who survives.
Frequently asked questions
How often does difficulty change?
Every 2,016 blocks, roughly every two weeks.
When is the next halving?
Around 2028, after block 1,050,000.
Try it yourself
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