Hash Rate
Total computing power of Bitcoin network — higher hash rate = more secure network.
Hash rate is the total computing power used for mining Bitcoin (and other PoW cryptocurrencies) — measured in hashes per second (H/s).
Units:
•KH/s = 1,000 hash/sec
•MH/s = 1,000,000 hash/sec
•GH/s = billion hash/sec
•TH/s = trillion hash/sec (ASIC level)
•EH/s = quintillion hash/sec (Bitcoin network level)
•2024: Bitcoin network ~600 EH/s
Why it matters:
•Higher hash rate = more computers = harder to attack network
•51% attack requires >50% of total hash rate
•Practically impossible on Bitcoin (too expensive)
Difficulty adjustment:
•Every 2016 blocks (~2 weeks)
•If hash rate rises → difficulty rises (blocks slower)
•If hash rate falls → difficulty falls (blocks faster)
•Goal: block time ~10 minutes
Hash rate as sentiment indicator:
•Miner capitulation: hash rate drops drastically → miners sell
•Hash rate recovery: positive signal
Where to track:
•Blockchain.com/charts, Glassnode, CoinWarz