The Bitcoin network’s hashrate has slipped below 1,000 exahash per second for the first time since mid-September, marking a notable pullback in network computing power. Based on Hashrate Index data, the seven-day moving average currently sits at about 993 EH/s after dropping under the 1,000 EH/s, or 1 zetahash per second, threshold on Saturday.

From its recent peak of roughly 1,157 EH/s recorded on Oct. 19, the seven-day average has now declined by close to 15%, reflecting a sustained reduction rather than a brief fluctuation.

AI demand increasingly competes with mining

StandardHash CEO and founder Leon Lyu linked the decline to Bitcoin miners redirecting energy capacity toward artificial intelligence computing, which in some cases offers more attractive profit margins. In a post on X on Monday, he said miners are reallocating resources to AI workloads as part of a broader shift in response to challenging economics in the mining sector.

Industry pressures have been building for some time. TheMinerMag previously described 2025 as the “harshest margin environment of all time” for Bitcoin miners, citing falling revenues alongside rising debt burdens. Against that backdrop, many operators have looked to AI and high-performance computing as alternative uses for their infrastructure, since mining facilities typically have access to large-scale power and advanced cooling systems that can be repurposed beyond SHA-256 hashing.

Lyu also suggested that some equipment manufacturers, including Bitmain, may be deploying excess machines through less transparent channels. If so, publicly reported hashrate figures could understate the total computing capacity connected to the network.

“The Bottom Line: While manufacturers are plugging in their own surplus stock, the net outflow of hashrate confirms the immense pressure on miner profitability. AI isn't just a trend; it's actively competing for the grid.”

Difficulty and profitability signals diverge

The decline in hashrate has occurred even as mining conditions have technically become more favorable. Since Nov. 12, 2025, Bitcoin’s mining difficulty has been adjusted downward four times, falling from 156 trillion to about 146.5 trillion. Lower difficulty reduces the computational effort required to mine a block, which typically eases pressure on miners.

At the same time, Bitcoin hashprice has improved over the past month, rising from around $37.15 to roughly $40 per petahash per second per day. This increase points to improving miner revenue metrics, even as some operators appear to be diverting capacity away from the Bitcoin network in favor of alternative compute opportunities.

Sources:

https://cointelegraph.com/news/bitcoin-hashrate-falls-under-1-zetahash-second

https://x.com/LeonLyuLv/status/2013048034402177030

https://data.hashrateindex.com/network-data/network