Bitcoin mining difficulty drops 7.8% as miner exodus accelerates amid AI pivot

Bitcoin's mining difficulty experienced a significant drop of 7.76% on Saturday, marking the second-largest negative adjustment of 2026. This decline is attributed to several factors, including prolonged block times and a growing trend of miners shifting their operations towards artificial intelligence (AI). The adjustment follows a turbulent period for the network, with a prior 11% plunge in February due to a winter storm and a subsequent short-lived recovery. Several publicly traded mining companies, including Core Scientific, Bitdeer, and others, are actively reallocating resources to AI, selling off Bitcoin holdings to fund this transition. This exodus is impacting network hashpower and raising concerns about long-term security. While historical data suggests that shrinking hashrate can sometimes precede positive price movements, the current situation points to a structural shift in the mining landscape, with miners increasingly reliant on the block subsidy and vulnerable to price fluctuations. Transaction fees have also decreased significantly, further increasing miners' dependence on Bitcoin's price.

(Source：The Block)