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Bitcoin mining difficulty increased 15% after miners returned to the internet following the storm.
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Bitcoin mining difficulty increased due to an increase in Hashrate.
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The BTC price is still below the miners cost basis. This may increase the selling pressure by miners.
The Bitcoin (BTC ) network has experienced its largest daily mining adjustment since 2021. After the winter storms subsided in the United States, Bitcoin’s difficulty has rebounded by over 15% and hovered at 144.4 T on February 21, 2026.
Bitcoin Mining Difficulty Rebounds after Winter Storm
During the recent snowstorm in the United States the difficulty of mining Bitcoin dropped dramatically as more mining rigs closed their operations temporarily. Notably, Bitcoin hashrate dropped to around 826EH/s at the peak of winter storm, causing a 11% decrease in its mining difficulty.
Source: X
Bitcoin miners quickly reconnected to network after the storm. The hashrate of Bitcoin then rebounded to almost 1 ZH/s. This recovery in Bitcoin’s hashrate was about 21% higher than the low of the winter storm.
As a result, the Bitcoin mining difficulty has risen by 15%. This is roughly 2.4% higher than pre-storm levels.
What is the expected market impact?
The noticeable rebound in Bitcoin mining difficulties will impact miners’ revenue in near-term. The Bitcoin mining industry is already experiencing lower profit margins as a result of the recent crypto capitulation.
Bitcoin miners have seen their profits drop since the BTC value dropped from
In two quarters, $126k will be worth around $68,247. Earnings will also fall as the Bitcoin difficulty increases by 15% while most miners’ hashrate remains unchanged.
The mining competition has just gotten tougher. Bitfinex said that if the price does not follow then selling pressure from higher-cost miner can increase.
The Bitcoin price has a low bullish view as retail capitulation dampens the potential for a rebound. Miners will be pushed to sell more if they are afraid of a further Bitcoin price drop, due to low capital inflow.
Related: Bitcoin Dead? Here’s what ChatGPT, Claude and Grok say
In the past, Bitcoin’s price dropped to its production costs band, which was a sign that it was time to buy. If the BTC price does not remain above its production band, further selling is likely, catalyzed mainly by miners’ increased capitulation.
Source: X
What’s The Bigger Picture?
The increasing volatility of Bitcoin’s mining difficulties, amid extreme weather conditions, is a sign that it has become a mainstream currency in the United States. The United States has a notable infrastructure of Bitcoin miner that gives it more influence over Bitcoin than any other nation.
A coordinated effort by the top BTC miners in the U.S. could put the network at a risk of a 51 percent attack. Blockchains that rely upon proof of staking – led by Ethereum (ETH), and Solana, (SOL) – have a better chance of thriving despite geopolitical instabilities and extreme weather conditions.
Related: U.S.-listed Bitcoin miners hold near-record hashrate share despite AI shift and storm disruptions
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