On December 11, 2025, Bitcoin mining difficulty dropped by 0.74% to 148.2 trillion, according to Cloverpool data. This marks the third consecutive decrease in this metric, indicating the market's ongoing adaptation to current conditions. Now, miners need to compute about 148 trillion hash functions to add a new block to the network and receive 3.125 BTC (about $281,000 at the current rate) as a block reward.
Current State of Bitcoin Mining Difficulty
Bitcoin mining difficulty continues to decline: on December 11, it decreased by 0.74% to 148.2T. This is the third consecutive drop, a trend previously seen only after the 2024 halving, when many miners shut down unprofitable equipment. Difficulty recalculation is directly tied to global hashrate dynamics: the peak of 1.31 Zh/s was recorded on October 24, while by December 11, the average daily hashrate was 1.14 Zh/s.
The Impact of Bitcoin Price on Mining Difficulty
The decrease in difficulty is happening against the backdrop of a falling Bitcoin price. After reaching a peak of around $126,000 on October 6, the price of the leading cryptocurrency dropped by 28% to $90,000. This trend forces the market to adapt to new conditions, with less efficient miners having to shut down their equipment. A similar situation occurred after the 2024 halving, when the reduction in block rewards led to a mass exit of outdated hardware.
Expert Commentary from Anton Gontarev
Anton Gontarev, Commercial Director at Intelion, notes that over the year, difficulty has risen from 104T to 148.2T, indicating ongoing structural demand for computing power. According to him, a decrease in difficulty is a normal part of industry dynamics, creating advantages for miners with low electricity costs. Such operators can weather correction periods much more confidently, especially if they use modern equipment and their own power generation. Less efficient hardware is gradually leaving the market, while mining share shifts toward those investing in sustainable infrastructure and cost control.
Outlook and Conclusions
The reduction in mining difficulty partially offsets operational cost pressures and increases output per unit of power. Investor interest in mining remains, and Bitcoin's long-term potential is still high. In these conditions, modern technology and effective cost management play a key role, enabling operators to stay competitive even as market conditions change. See also: Bitcoin Mining Difficulty Drops in November 2023: Reasons and Outlook
Why This Matters
For Russian miners, the decrease in difficulty may mean temporary relief in mining and an opportunity to partially offset rising electricity costs. However, the main benefits go to those using modern equipment and who have access to cheap energy resources. This confirms the trend of strengthening positions for large and technologically advanced players in the market.
What Should You Do?
- Assess your equipment's efficiency: older devices may become unprofitable at current prices and difficulty levels.
- Focus on lowering electricity costs—look for favorable rates or consider your own power generation.
- Monitor difficulty trends and Bitcoin price to timely adapt your mining strategy.
- Invest in infrastructure upgrades and automation to boost business resilience.
