Bitcoin's mining difficulty rose 5.92% to 140.58 trillion on Friday, the third-largest increase of 2026. Hashrate has returned above 1 zettahash per second, and early estimates point to another rise on Oct. 28.
On Friday, at block height 971712, the network's difficulty adjustment climbed 5.92% to 140.58 trillion, its highest reading since March 5. That is the highest reading since March 5.
Difficulty extends a recovery that began over the summer
Difficulty moved from 132.72 trillion to 140.58 trillion, the third-largest increase of the year. It continued a recovery that began over the summer. Bitcoin has logged 21 difficulty adjustments this year, and the latest was the 10th rise.
The increase coincided with a bitcoin price spike that led to better revenue for miners. On Sept. 16, hashprice stood at $37.56 per petahash per second, then climbed above $41 on two occasions over the past 30 days, including Oct. 2.
Hashrate climbs back above 1 ZH/s
For much of the past 30 days, mining revenue hovered between 6% and 9% above its Sept. 16 level. By Friday, however, hashprice had retreated to $36.75 per petahash per second.
The better revenue encouraged greater miner participation, and total network hashrate returned above 1,000 exahash per second (EH/s), equivalent to 1 zettahash per second (ZH/s). At the time of writing, hashrate sat at 1024.96 EH/s with block times around 8 minutes 45 seconds.
An expanding hashrate generally accelerates block production. When a 2,016-block epoch ends ahead of schedule, difficulty adjusts upward.
Another increase may arrive on Oct. 28
If the next epoch is mined faster than usual, the adjustment due on or around Oct. 28, 2026 is expected to bring an estimated 14.24% rise. Only a few dozen of the 2,016 blocks have been mined so far, so that projection could change considerably.
Source: Bitcoin News
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