Bitcoin

<p>For the first time in months, the Bitcoin hashrate has fallen below the symbolic threshold of 1 zettahash per second. A trend revealing an unexpected competition between cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence. Why are miners abandoning Bitcoin for AI? What are the stakes for the crypto network and its players?</p>
<div class="in-brief">
 <div class="in-brief--container">
  <span></span> <span></span>
  <h2 class="in-brief--title" id="in-brief">In Brief</h2>
  <ul>
   <li>The Bitcoin hashrate has fallen below 1 ZH/s, a first in months, due to miners migrating to AI services.</li>
   <li>Economic difficulties and declining revenue are pushing mining players to reallocate their resources towards AI.</li>
   <li>This drop weakens the Bitcoin network but also opens innovation opportunities for remaining miners.</li>
  </ul>
 </div>
</div>
<h2 id="h-ai-the-new-promised-land-for-bitcoin-miners">AI, the New Promised Land for Bitcoin Miners?</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.cointribune.com/hashrate-btc-comprendre-son-importance-pour-la-securite-du-reseau-bitcoin/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">The Bitcoin hashrate</a>, a key indicator of the network’s computing power, has dropped below 1 zettahash per second (ZH/s). A historic decline attributed to miners reallocating resources to AI services. Facing a difficult economic environment marked by falling revenues and rising costs, mining players are seeking more profitable alternatives.</p>
<div class="my-4">
 <div class="ads ">
 </div>
</div>
<p>Leon Lyu, CEO of StandardHash, explains this phenomenon as a search for higher profit margins. Indeed, mining farm infrastructures equipped with power and cooling are perfectly suited to AI’s needs. In 2025, TheMinerMag already described the year as the toughest environment ever for Bitcoin miners, pushing them to diversify their activities.</p>
<div class="tweet">
 <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
  <a href="https://twitter.com/leonlyulv/status/2013048034402177030?s=46?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"></a>
 </blockquote>
</div>
<p>This migration raises questions about the future of traditional mining. Miners, once dedicated to Bitcoin, now turn to sectors where profitability is immediate and less volatile. This trend could intensify if economic conditions do not improve.</p>
<h2 id="h-bitcoin-in-danger-consequences-of-a-falling-hashrate">Bitcoin in Danger? Consequences of a Falling Hashrate</h2>
<p><a href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/bitcoin-hashrate-falls-under-1-zetahash-second" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">The drop in Bitcoin hashrate</a> has direct impacts on the security and decentralization of the network. Indeed, less computing power means increased vulnerability to potential attacks, such as 51% attacks. This situation worries blockchain purists, for whom network robustness is a top priority.</p>
<div class="wp-block-image">
 <figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized">
  <img src="https://www.cointribune.com/app/uploads/2026/01/IMG_3879-1024x513.webp" alt="The Bitcoin hashrate, a key indicator of the network’s computing power, has dropped below 1 zettahash per second (ZH/s)." width="559" height="280">
  <figcaption>
   <em>Bitcoin Hashrate drops below 1 ZH/s.</em>
  </figcaption>
 </figure>
</div>
<p>Paradoxically, the decrease in hashrate is accompanied by a drop in mining difficulty. Since November 2025, this difficulty has fallen from 156 to 146.5 trillion, making Bitcoin extraction more accessible. A boon for remaining miners, but it does not compensate for the overall loss of network power.</p>
<p>The price of Bitcoin, slightly up (40 dollars per petahash/day), is insufficient to reverse the trend. Consequently, miners facing high energy costs prefer to invest in sectors like AI, where return on investment is more predictable. This dynamic could long-term weaken the Bitcoin ecosystem.</p>
<h2 id="h-towards-coexistence-between-btc-and-ai">Towards Coexistence Between BTC and AI?</h2>
<p>The future of Bitcoin mining will depend on its ability to adapt to this new competition. Industry players are already exploring ways to optimize energy costs and diversify activities. Some even envision a hybrid between crypto mining and AI services to maximize the use of their infrastructure.</p>
<div class="affiliate-button">
 <a href="https://bitpanda.pxf.io/c/2801338/1632019/15871" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Your 1st cryptos with Bitpanda</a> <a href="https://www.cointribune.com/en/sponsored-content/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">This link uses an affiliate program.</a>
</div>
<p>Moreover, regulators and states could play a key role in this transition. Favorable energy policies and tax incentives could help miners remain competitive. However, is this competition between Bitcoin and AI a threat or an opportunity? While some see it as a catalyst for innovation, others fear a gradual marginalization of BTC in the face of AI’s irresistible rise.</p>
<p>The drop in Bitcoin hashrate is not an isolated phenomenon but a symptom of a broader transformation of the sector. AI, in search of computing power, is redefining the rules of the game. To survive, Bitcoin players will have to innovate and adapt. One thing is certain: this competition is just beginning. And you, do you think <a href="https://www.cointribune.com/bitcoin/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">BTC</a> can coexist with AI, or is it doomed to become a secondary player?</p>
<div class="my-4">
 <div class="ads ">
 </div>
</div>

Historic Drop in Bitcoin Hashrate: Is AI to Blame?

Table of Contents

Cointribune EN

Other articles published on Jan 20, 2026

Join our free newsletter for daily crypto updates!