Bitcoin’s Hashrate Soars Past 1 Zettahash Even as Miner Revenue Nosedives

Bitcoin has crossed a major technological threshold, with its hashrate hitting 1 zettahash per second (ZH/s) for the first time, according to Glassnode. This milestone—equivalent to 1,000 exahashes per second—highlights the exponential growth of the network’s computing power, which first reached 1 EH/s back in 2016.

The record-setting hashrate coincides with a near 7% increase in mining difficulty, now at an all-time high of 121.5 trillion. It’s the sharpest upward adjustment since July 2024 and the 14th positive move out of the last 17 changes, underscoring the ongoing intensification of mining competition.

Despite the strength of the network, miner profitability is under strain. Hashprice, the metric used to estimate daily mining revenue per exahash, has dropped to a record low of $42.40. This decline stems from a trio of pressures: increased difficulty, modest transaction fees, and a declining bitcoin price.

BTC is currently trading near $77,000, down about 10% since early April. Analysts point to recent geopolitical developments—particularly the reintroduction of tariffs by President Trump—as contributing factors in the latest price downturn.

While 24-hour hashrate figures can be skewed by block time variance, the 7-day moving average still reflects strong growth, currently sitting at 879 EH/s. Although the zettahash reading may be brief, it represents a pivotal moment in Bitcoin’s evolution—one that highlights the growing sophistication of its infrastructure even as economic pressures mount on the mining sector.

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