Bitcoin mining difficulty continued to decline following recent record levels. On December 11, the network adjusted the metric downward by 0.74%, bringing it to 148.2 T. This marked the third consecutive reduction after the all-time high of 155.97 T reached in late November.
However, each correction has become smaller. Analysts suggest the network is stabilizing after rapid growth. Current projections indicate a modest rebound in difficulty during the next adjustment cycle.
Hashrate Stays Near Records Despite Profit Pressure
According to Glassnode, Bitcoin’s global hashrate remains elevated. The seven-day moving average stands near 1.1 ZH/s. This confirms strong network security but increases competition among miners.
The trend points toward previous highs around 1.15 ZH/s. Those levels were last recorded in mid-October. Miners continue adding capacity, even as margins tighten.
Profitability remains a key concern. On November 21, Bitcoin’s price fell below $83,000. As a result, hashprice dropped to about $34 per PH/s per day, the lowest this year.
Even after Bitcoin recovered above $90,000, mining returns stayed limited. Hashprice struggled to exceed $40 per PH/s per day. This environment pressures operators with higher energy costs.
Solo Miner Beats the Odds With $284,000 Reward
Against this backdrop, a rare event occurred. A solo miner successfully mined block #927,474 on the Bitcoin network. The total reward reached 3.133 BTC, valued at $284,661.
The payout included 0.008 BTC in transaction fees. CKPool administrator Con Kolivas said the miner operated at 270 TH/s. The odds of success were estimated at one in 30,000 per day.
This marked the 311th block mined by individual participants using CKPool. The platform allows solo miners to claim full block rewards. CKPool charges a 2% service fee.
