Giovanni Russo On October 12, 2023, Bitcoin’s hashrate reached a new peak, registering an unprecedented 455 exahash per second (EH/s), as indicated by a seven-day simple moving average (SMA). To offer a comparative view, the hashrate started the year at approximately 261 EH/s. Within a span of nine months, there has been an increase of 194 EH/s, edging ever closer to the monumental threshold of half a zettahash.
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As Bitcoin Faces Price Volatility and Increased Difficulty, Its Hashrate Defies Expectations: Approaching Half a Zettahash
As of October 12, 2023, Bitcoin’s hashrate reached a record 455 EH/s, according to the seven-day SMA. Contrast this with the hashrate at the onset of 2023, which stood at 261 EH/s. This signifies a nine-month increase of 194 EH/s in computational capacity. In layman’s terms, the network’s computational ability has been growing at an average rate of 0.68 EH/s per day this year, despite experiencing 15 difficulty adjustments that have been upward in nature.
The forthcoming difficulty adjustment, scheduled for October 16, 2023, is predicted to result in an increase of over 7%. Should miners continue to weather these increases and the hashrate maintain its growth trajectory, Bitcoin is on course to reach the half zettahash per second mark, or approximately 500 EH/s. Given the current pace, it is conceivable that this milestone could be attained before the next halving of rewards takes place.
Projecting the current growth rate of 0.68 EH/s per day, the seven-day SMA could potentially reach 500 EH/s within approximately 66 days, or roughly 9 to 10 weeks, which corresponds to a date on or around December 20, 2023. Earlier in the year, research analyst Sam Wouters of River Financial postulated that Bitcoin might enter the zettahash era, equivalent to 1,000 EH/s, “by the end of 2025.” Based on the existing daily growth rate of 0.68 EH/s, this significant milestone is likely to be achieved around December 23, 2025, or perhaps in early 2026.
Despite Bitcoin’s price fluctuations and the general low yield per petahash per second (PH/s) for miners—standing at under $60 daily as of October 15, 2023—the hashrate continues to set new records. The network’s current difficulty is an imposing 57.32 trillion, and with the anticipated increase, it may well exceed 61 trillion.
We invite you to share your expert insights and views on the future of Bitcoin mining and its prospects for reaching the zettahash era in the comments section below.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Bitcoin’s Hashrate Milestones
What is the significance of Bitcoin’s hashrate reaching 455 EH/s?
The hashrate of Bitcoin reaching 455 EH/s is a critical indicator of the network’s increasing computational power. This surge signifies a more secure and robust network, which in turn could attract more participants and potentially drive up the value of Bitcoin.
How has the Bitcoin hashrate evolved over the course of 2023?
At the beginning of 2023, Bitcoin’s hashrate was approximately 261 EH/s. As of October 12, it reached a record high of 455 EH/s, marking an increase of 194 EH/s within a span of nine months.
What are the implications of the upcoming difficulty adjustment for Bitcoin?
The upcoming difficulty adjustment, scheduled for October 16, 2023, is anticipated to increase by over 7%. While this makes the computational problems more challenging for miners, it is a measure to maintain the network’s stability and security.
What is the likelihood of Bitcoin reaching half a zettahash (ZH/s) by the end of the year?
If the current growth rate of 0.68 EH/s per day persists, Bitcoin could potentially reach a hashrate of approximately 500 EH/s, or half a zettahash, around December 20, 2023.
What does the term “zettahash era” mean, and when is it expected?
The term “zettahash era” refers to a future phase when Bitcoin’s hashrate will reach 1,000 EH/s or one zettahash per second. Based on current growth rates, it is estimated that this could occur around December 23, 2025, or potentially in early 2026.
While Bitcoin’s hashrate has been breaking records, its price has seen fluctuations and the yield per petahash for miners has remained relatively low. However, a strong hashrate typically correlates with network security and may indirectly influence price stability and mining profitability in the long term.
What is the current network difficulty of Bitcoin, and how might it change?
As of October 15, 2023, the network difficulty is at 57.32 trillion. With the upcoming estimated hike, this could surpass 61 trillion, making it increasingly challenging for miners but also enhancing the network’s overall security.
More about Bitcoin’s Hashrate Milestones
- Understanding Bitcoin Hashrate
- Bitcoin Difficulty Adjustment Explained
- Bitcoin Price Volatility
- Bitcoin Mining Profitability
- River Financial’s Research on Zettahash Era
- Bitcoin Network Statistics
- Bitcoin Halving: What It Means
- Future of Bitcoin Mining
6 comments
If we’re getting this close to a half zettahash, just imagine what the numbers will be like a couple years from now. Mind blown.
500 EH/s by December 20?? thats really soon! Sam Wouters seems to know his stuff, wonder what he thinks bout this new peak.
Is it just me or does a strong hashrate like that make Bitcoin look like a more stable investment? Feels more secure somehow.
difficulty goin up 7%?? miners gotta be feelin that one for sure. But I guess thats good for the overall network.
Solid piece, but what about the energy consumption with such high hashrate? gotta be off the charts.
Wow, didn’t know the hashrate was goin’ so high. Thats kinda insane, eh? Makes you think what’ll happen when we actually hit a zettahash.