Bitcoin mining difficulty has dropped by 10.09%, marking the network’s 11th-largest downward adjustment in history and giving miners some short-term relief after weeks of pressure.
The latest Bitcoin mining difficulty adjustment happened on Sunday at block 953,568. According to Galaxy Research, difficulty fell from 138.96 trillion to 124.93 trillion, making it the second-largest downward adjustment of 2026 after February’s 11% decline.
The drop also puts Bitcoin mining difficulty around 20% below its November peak, showing how much mining conditions have changed as hashrate moved offline.
Why Bitcoin Mining Difficulty Dropped
Bitcoin mining difficulty helps keep block production stable, even when the amount of computing power on the network changes. When hashrate falls, the network lowers difficulty, making it easier for active Bitcoin miners to find new blocks.
Galaxy Research said the latest mining epoch lasted 15.6 days, longer than the usual 14-day period. This happened because part of the Bitcoin mining hashrate went offline, slowing block production before the network adjusted.
Bitcoin’s price has also created pressure across the mining sector. BTC has fallen by around 15% so far in June, squeezing miner margins and making operations less profitable, especially for companies using older mining machines or paying higher electricity costs.
Bitcoin Hashrate Falls From Recent Highs
Bitcoin’s total hashrate is currently around 886 exahashes per second, according to Blockchain.com. It has dropped 12% so far this month and is down 23% from its October peak.
Hashrate measures the total computing power used to secure the Bitcoin network. When hashrate falls, it usually means fewer mining machines are active. This often happens when weaker profit margins force less efficient miners to shut down.
With fewer miners competing for block rewards, the remaining operators now face better earning conditions. Crypto trader Merlijn Enkelaar estimated that active miners are earning around 9% more per machine after the difficulty adjustment.
Hashprice Climbs Back Above $30
The Bitcoin difficulty drop has also helped hashprice recover. Hashprice measures how much revenue miners can expect to earn from a specific amount of mining power.
According to Hashrate Index, hashprice has increased by 13% and is now around $33 per petahash per second per day.
This is an important level for Bitcoin miners. The Energy Mag reported that a hashprice above $30 can push more miners closer to a gross breakeven point. Efficient mining fleets can continue to generate profit at lower hashprice levels, while older machines with higher electricity costs are more likely to be switched off.
February Also Brought a Major Difficulty Drop
This is the second major Bitcoin mining difficulty decline in 2026. In February, difficulty fell by more than 11% after storm-related curtailments and a 25% Bitcoin price crash pushed parts of the mining network offline.
The largest Bitcoin mining difficulty drop in history happened in July 2021, after China banned Bitcoin mining and triggered a major miner exodus from the country.
What Comes Next for Bitcoin Miners?
The next Bitcoin mining difficulty adjustment is expected on June 27. Coinwarz currently predicts a small 1.69% increase, which would bring difficulty back to around 127 trillion.
For now, the latest 10% drop gives Bitcoin miners some breathing room. However, Bitcoin mining profitability will still depend on BTC price performance, electricity costs, mining efficiency, hashprice levels, and whether more hashrate returns to the network.
Key Takeaway
Bitcoin’s 10.09% mining difficulty drop offers short-term relief for miners, but the sector remains under pressure from lower BTC prices, falling hashrate, and tight profit margins. Efficient miners are likely to benefit the most, while older and more expensive mining operations may continue to struggle.
