Key Takeaways
- •Bitcoin's seven-day average hashrate has fallen to 993 EH/s, the lowest point since mid-September 2025.
- •This represents a 15% decline from its recent peak, attributed to miners redirecting power resources to AI computing.
- •Despite the decrease, network security remains stable with no immediate risks identified.
Bitcoin's network hashrate has reached its lowest level since September 2025, dropping below 1,000 EH/s for the first time in four months. This decline is occurring as miners are shifting their resources towards high-profit AI computing. Data from Hashrate Index indicates that the seven-day average hashrate is now approximately 993 EH/s, a nearly 15% decrease from its peak of 1,157 EH/s in October 2025. StandardHash CEO Leon Lyu has stated that Bitcoin miners are reallocating electricity to AI and high-performance computing for improved profit margins.
Bitcoin Hashrate Alert: A Shift in the Mining Landscape 📉
— Leon Lyu (@LeonLyuLv) January 19, 2026
For the first time since Sept 2025, BTC’s 7-day average hashrate has fallen below 1 ZH/s. A -4.34% difficulty adjustment is expected in ~3 days.
What’s driving the exodus? 🧵
1⃣ The AI Pivot: Major mining firms are… pic.twitter.com/hg8O8xBIkx
Mining facilities are being repurposed to support data-center operations due to persistent pressure on miner profitability, making AI compute an attractive and stabilizing alternative. Lyu also noted that reported hashrate figures might be understated, suggesting that major manufacturer Bitmain could be deploying hardware privately.
Miners Chase AI Profits, Spark Hashrate Slide
The profitability of Bitcoin mining is currently under significant strain. The surging demand for AI computing is driving up electricity costs to levels that miners find unsustainable. This pressure is further intensified by Bitcoin's price, which is fluctuating between $80,000 and $90,000, a notable decrease from its 2025 peak near $110,000. This price range is further tightening miner margins.
Consequently, the Bitcoin hashrate has fallen to a four-month low, currently registered at approximately 981 EH/s. This decline reverses the record highs observed in late 2025 and persists despite recent increases in the spot BTC price, which have not been sufficient to incentivize miners to reactivate their operations.
Network Resilience Persists, Future Trends Unclear
Despite the near-term hashrate dip, which is a result of the pivot towards Artificial Intelligence (AI) power utilization, prominent crypto figure Arthur Hayes predicts that Bitcoin will still reach new all-time highs in 2026. He argues that the sustained, long-term rally in Bitcoin is contingent not on mining fluctuations but primarily on the expansion of US dollar liquidity. This expansion solidifies Bitcoin’s value proposition as a premier digital hedge against ongoing fiat currency debasement and inflation.

