Bitcoin’s mining power swung wildly this week. Hashrate dipped to roughly 660 EH/s, the lowest level since the summer of 2024, then surged by over 30% in just one day to climb back above 1000 EH/s. According to mining trackers, these big swings underline how fragile operations can be when outside factors shift. The price of BTC also jumped briefly above $109,000 before drifting back toward the $107,000 mark. Hashrate Plunges Amid Global Tensions Based on reports, the drop to 660 EH/s coincided with US strikes against Iran and an Iranian counterattack. Some miners in the region appear to have powered down as a precaution. Iran once held close to 4% of the total hashrate at its peak, but its share now sits near 0.10%. Meanwhile, US-based operations still lead the pack, accounting for more than 35% of global mining power. Weather And Power Costs Hit Miners A severe heatwave in Texas also played a role. Cooling thousands of rigs becomes a huge expense when temperatures soar. At the same time, hydroelectric output in parts of China and Canada tends to dip during summer months. That forces some facilities to shut off rigs rather than run at a loss. Miners often use idle capacity to help balance local power grids or soak up extra energy when supply is high. New Data Centers Drive Sudden Rebound Then came yesterday’s jump. Several large “next-gen” data centers flipped their rigs back on after scheduled maintenance or testing. When those big sites reconnect, you see sudden bumps in network power. Reporting lags may exaggerate the size of the jump at first, but even after corrections, the network still sits near its all-time high. This pattern shows how a few coordinated moves by major pools can ripple through the entire network. Difficulty Cuts Offer Relief To Miners In June, network difficulty fell by about 8.5%, making it easier for rigs to find blocks. Based on chain data, the cost to mine 1 BTC now stands near $98,000. That gives many operations a bit of breathing room when prices hover around $107,000–$108,000. Looking Ahead To Network Stability Bitcoin’s mining scene has grown more organized and cost-sensitive than ever. Small changes in power costs or weather can push big farms offline, then pull them back when conditions improve. As prices bounce and difficulty shifts, miners will keep adjusting on the fly. Based on these swings, the network’s raw computing power is always ready to react to whatever comes next. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
