CoinShares reports Bitcoin mining faces sharpest contraction since 2021
Summary
Bitcoin mining experienced its sharpest network contraction since 2021, with the hashrate dropping to approximately 850 EH/s, reflecting a 27% decline from its October 2025 peak. This downturn is tied to a larger trend following the April 2024 halving, where historical patterns show miners often experience temporary declines before recovering as the market stabilizes and Bitcoin's price fluctuates. Amid these changes, public miners are transitioning their operations towards AI and high-performance computing to leverage more lucrative opportunities, prompted by the heightened regulatory constraints on new data centers in the U.S. that have made existing sites significantly more valuable. At the end of Q2 2026, Bitcoin's market price was at US$58,400, while the hash price had dropped to an all-time low of US$27.7/PH/s/day in June. This contraction reflects a shift in priorities for many miners, who are now opting to cease traditional mining operations in favor of AI initiatives.