The Bitcoin network hashrate has fallen under 1,000 exahash per second (EH/s) for the first time since mid-September. One analyst suggests this decline is linked to continued interest in artificial intelligence (AI).
According to Hashrate Index data, the Bitcoin hashrate is currently 993 EH/s on a seven-day moving average. It dropped below the 1,000 EH/s mark, equivalent to 1 zettahash per second (ZH/s), on Saturday.
This represents a nearly 15% decrease from its seven-day moving average peak of 1,157 EH/s, which was recorded on October 19.
AI Pivot Impacting Bitcoin Hashrate, According to Analyst
In a post on X, StandardHash CEO and founder Leon Lyu attributed the hashrate decline to Bitcoin miners reallocating power to AI compute services. This shift is driven by the pursuit of higher profitability margins.
The Miner Mag previously described 2025 as the "harshest margin environment of all time" for Bitcoin miners. This was due to collapsing revenue and surging debt presenting major obstacles.
Many miners have turned to artificial intelligence and high-performance computing. Bitcoin mining facilities possess large-scale power access and cooling infrastructure that can be repurposed for applications beyond SHA-256 hashing.
Lyu also suggested that Bitmain, the largest Bitcoin mining manufacturer, might be scaling its hashrate off-the-books through secondary channels and undisclosed partnerships. This implies that the true network hashrate could be underestimated.
The Bottom Line: While manufacturers are plugging in their own surplus stock, the net outflow of hashrate confirms the immense pressure on miner profitability. AI isn't just a trend; it's actively competing for the grid.
The recent drop in hashrate occurs despite several factors that typically would support its increase. The Bitcoin mining difficulty has decreased four times since November 12, 2025, falling from 156 trillion to 146.5 trillion. This reduction in computational work required to find a block makes Bitcoin mining easier.
Additionally, the Bitcoin hashprice has risen from $37.15 to $40 per petahash per second per day over the past month. This indicates improving Bitcoin miner profitability.