Bitcoin’s mining power is feeling the pressure. A rare 15.8% plunge in hashrate within ten days has raised concerns across the crypto ecosystem. From scorching heat in Texas to power cuts in Iran, miners are facing challenges on multiple fronts. This shift could disrupt mining economics and network security if conditions persist.

Bitcoin Hashrate Suffers Largest Drop Since 2021

Bitcoin’s hashrate has dropped from 943 billion terahashes per second (TH/s) to 799.9 TH/s. This represents a 15.8% decline, the most severe drop in nearly three years, according to Blockchain.com data.

This decline began after the U.S. carried out airstrikes on Iranian infrastructure. That event triggered a dip in both Bitcoin prices and mining activity. Iran’s power and internet disruptions, alongside external mining pressures, contributed to the lower hash output globally.

Texas Heatwave Forces Mining Shutdowns

Record-breaking heat in Texas is a key factor behind the falling hashrate. Mining facilities connected to the ERCOT grid have temporarily reduced operations to avoid overheating.

Temperatures in many parts of Texas have soared past 40°C, making mining dangerous for hardware. As a safety measure, miners are turning off rigs for hours—or even days—during peak heat periods.

This pattern is expected to continue through the summer, particularly during high-demand hours when grid stability is at risk. The drop in activity from Texas, a major U.S. mining hub, has rippled across the global network.

Geopolitical Tensions Add to Mining Pressure

Conflict-related power outages also impacted mining activities in Iran. After the military operation of the United States and Israel, Iran has introduced internet blackouts and power cuts to parts of the country.

The blackout was accompanied by a 2.2% decline in hashrate over the weekend, demonstrating an influence of such geopolitics in impacts upon network performance. The case has rekindled the issue of centralization of mining in politically unstable areas.

Such interruptions introduce an element of unpredictability to the mining of Bitcoin, particularly in regions where there are high regulatory or other power-related risks.

Difficulty Adjustment, Revenue Decline Fuel Capitulation

A few miners put operations on hold to wait until the next difficulty adjustment is called, expected to be on June 29. The ease of mining has the potential to reinstate the profits of small and mid-sized mining companies, albeit temporarily.

The miner revenue has decreased after the previous halving. This has resulted in a tide of closure, particularly in those firms which have more costly energy, or older plant.

Many of the smaller operators are leaving the market, according to the capitulation signals. The net effect is a drop in hashrate where only the most efficient miners are able to mine.

Texas Launches Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Amid Drop

Due to the shift in economics of mining, Texas has already initiated a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. such a move gives the Comptroller of Public Accounts of the state the right to buy and receive Bitcoin.

The program will nurture the domestic mining environment and be ready to come up with long-term digital asset assimilation. There are speculations that the state will purchase Bitcoin directly off of the in-state miners offering insulation to market swings.

Bitcoin Price Steady Despite Network Drop

Nevertheless, Bitcoin’s price has remained above $ 107,000 despite the network pressure. The positive news on the peace talks between Iran and Israel calmed some geopolitical anxieties, and traders reacted positively to the same.

Major mining stocks, including Marathon Digital and Hut 8, gained momentum; this is an indication that investors are optimistic that mining will remain resilient in the long term. Nevertheless, observers caution that the hashrate may remain negatively pressured by increasing temperatures, energy prices and global politics in the near future.