Bitcoin : Hashrate Falls Back Below 1 Zettahash, Difficulty Follows Lower

Bitcoin is slowing slightly, but the network is not breaking. On May 1, 2026, its mining difficulty fell by 2.3%, while the hashrate dropped back below the symbolic threshold of 1 zettahash per second.

Bitcoin Adjusts Its Difficulty After the Hashrate Decline

The latest difficulty drop shows one thing above all: the Bitcoin network adapts. This is not a bug, nor a sudden shutdown. It is the mechanism built into the protocol when computing power declines.

This correction comes after another 2.43% drop on April 17. Difficulty now stands at 132.47 trillion after the adjustment at block 947,520. It is also the sixth difficulty reduction recorded in 2026.

The signal is therefore clear. Miners have slowed down part of their machines, or moved their computing power elsewhere. The network, meanwhile, lowers difficulty to gradually bring block production back toward its expected rhythm. The move below 1 zettahash per second draws attention because the figure is huge. One zettahash equals 1,000 exahashes per second. It is more of a mental boundary than a technical wall.

On May 3, 2026, the network’s computing power fluctuated between 899 and 958 EH/s over 24 hours, according to data reported by Bitcoin.com News. Binance Square also mentioned a seven-day average of around 965.99 EH/s.

In other words, Bitcoin remains in a very high range. The network is not going backward. It is catching its breath after a period of pressure. The real question lies elsewhere: how many miners can remain profitable if revenues stay tight?

Miners Get Some Relief, but Not Comfort Yet

The most interesting point comes from hashprice. It climbed back to $37.52 per PH/s, compared with $34.39 previously. That is a concrete improvement for miners still operating.

But this improvement does not solve everything. A lower difficulty makes mining easier for those who remain online. However, if the hashrate continues to slide, it may also point to ongoing economic pressure on less efficient operators.

ForkLog notes that hashprice rose above $37 per PH/s per day for the first time since late January. It is a small relief, not a return to euphoria. The machines are running, but margins are being fought over down to the cent.

Slower Blocks May Be Preparing Another Drop

The average block time reached around 10 minutes and 28 seconds on May 3. That is above the usual 10-minute target. This explains why another downward difficulty adjustment remains possible around May 17.

Still, caution is needed. More than 1,800 blocks must still be mined before the next adjustment. A lot can change before then. A rebound in Bitcoin’s price or hashprice could bring machines back online.

On the mining pool side, Foundry USA remains dominant, with 31.51% of the 987 blocks mined over seven days. Antpool and ViaBTC follow. Together, these three players represent 58.35% of the computing power observed during the period. This concentration remains worth watching, even though 115 entities are still contributing to the network.

A Slowdown, Not a Sign of Weakness

This difficulty drop should not be read as a defeat for Bitcoin. It shows instead the harsh reality of mining economics. When costs rise or revenues fall, the least profitable machines leave the game.

The protocol, for its part, does what it is designed to do. It adjusts. It absorbs. It continues producing blocks, even with less computing power than at the recent peak.

For the market, the message is more nuanced. Bitcoin remains secured by enormous computing power. But miners are walking a narrow line between temporary relief and operational uncertainty. Mid-May will show whether this pullback was a technical pause or the beginning of a deeper adjustment.