Bitcoin Hashrate Blasts Past 1 Zettahash for First Time, Even as Prices Tumble

Bitcoin computing power has scaled a new peak, with its network hashrate crossing 1 Zetahash per second (ZH/s) for the first time since the cryptocurrency’s inception. 

The feat, registered across multiple blockchain data platforms, is being hailed as a major milestone in Bitcoin’s 16-year journey toward greater decentralization and security.

Milestone Moment in Bitcoin Mining

According to mempool.space, Bitcoin’s hashrate surged to 1.025 ZH/s on April 5, while BTC Frame logged a slightly earlier rise on April 4 with a 1.02 ZH/s peak. 

Coinwarz reported an even steeper ascent to 1.1 ZH/s at block height 890,915. The discrepancies among data sources stem from how each calculates hashrate — influenced by block intervals, mining difficulty, and data from different nodes and pools.

Long-time Bitcoin developer Jameson Lopp has previously cautioned that hashrate estimations can vary significantly depending on whether they are calculated using one trailing block or a longer window.

Mitchell Askew of Blockware Solutions echoed that sentiment, stating that short-term variations in block times can skew real-time metrics. The 30-day moving average, a more stable indicator, still hovers around 0.845 ZH/s.

Miners Scale Up as Network Fortifies

Regardless of the varying figures, the 1 ZH/s mark is monumental. For context, 1 ZH/s equals 1,000 Exahashes per second — a staggering 1,000-fold increase from January 2016, when the network first touched 1 EH/s. It underlines just how much firepower now backs the world’s most secure and decentralized financial network.

The rise has been driven in part by the arms race among industrial miners. As Askew noted, firms are rapidly deploying more efficient rigs and expanding mining sites. However, he also warned that older, less-efficient operations may be forced out unless Bitcoin’s price sees a rebound.

MARA Holdings leads the pack with over 50 EH/s in hash power, while Foundry USA Pool and AntPool control the lion’s share of total hashrate distribution. Around two dozen publicly listed companies, including Riot Platforms and CleanSpark, are actively mining.

Ironically, the historic jump in hashrate has come just as Bitcoin price has taken a hit. Over the past 24 hours, BTC has dropped nearly 8%, landing at $76,000.

Meanwhile, broader markets suffered a $6.6 trillion wipeout — the worst two-day loss ever — driven largely by recession concerns tied to Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs.