Iran’s Internet Blackout Could be Critical for Bitcoin

Iran's near-total internet blackout, enacted amid escalating anti-government protests, raises questions about the intersection of geopolitics and Bitcoin mining, although it does not pose a systemic threat to the network. Iran contributes a low-single-digit percentage of the global Bitcoin hashrate, down from its 2021 peak, having been attractive due to subsidized energy. While an immediate blackout doesn't stop industrial mining, prolonged instability increases operational costs by hindering pool coordination and updates. The network is resilient, having survived China's 2021 ban which removed over 40% of hashrate. The event underscores Bitcoin's decentralization narrative, but also highlights that hashpower still congregates in politically fragile regions chasing cheap energy, suggesting the ongoing global redistribution of mining toward more regulated jurisdictions.

(Source：BeInCrypto)