Bitcoin Mining Difficulty Peaks as Antpool Closes In on Foundry USA

Bitcoin’s mining difficulty reached a new all-time high of 62.46 trillion following a 2.3% increase early Monday. This surge is due to mining operations maximizing their efforts before the upcoming halving event in six months. However, the growth rate seems to be slowing down, considering previous monthly jumps of 5.48% and 6.47%, according to theminermag.

Data from BTC.com shows that Antpool and Foundry USA Pool saw significant hashrate increases in the last two weeks. Specifically, Antpool's resurgence is narrowing its gap with Foundry USA. Antpool mined a remarkable 1,175 blocks in October, the highest monthly count in over seven years. Consequently, Antpool and Foundry USA Pool now command a historic combined market share of 55%.

Bitmain, despite divesting Antpool in 2021, remains linked through a comprehensive ecosystem that includes miner manufacturing and self-mining. Recent data indicate that Bitmain’s U.S. arm imported at least 19 exahash per second (EH/s) of their S19XPs in Q3. As a result, part of Antpool’s increased hashrate could be attributed to Bitmain's recent imports.

Moreover, Antpool recently introduced cloud mining with contracts based on Bitmain's S19XPs. This suggests that Antpool is not just growing but diversifying its mining operations. The U.S. shipment records show Bitmain’s continued influence on the American mining landscape, which, in turn, boosts Antpool’s position.

In summary, as miners gear up for the Bitcoin halving, competition is intensifying. Antpool’s significant comeback, paired with an overall slowdown in difficulty growth, makes the next six months critical for all stakeholders. With mining pools wielding more power than ever, the landscape could see further dramatic shifts, adding another layer of complexity and intrigue to the already volatile world of Bitcoin mining.