Mining is how Bitcoin secures the network and creates new coins. Here’s the truth about how it actually works:

What Miners Actually Do

They’re guessing numbers. Millions of times per second. The process:

1. Collect unconfirmed transactions from the mempool
2. Create a candidate block
3. Hash repeatedly until the hash is below the target
4. First to find it wins

The ‘Work’ in Proof of Work

The target adjusts every 2016 blocks (~2 weeks). If blocks were found too fast, the target drops. Too slow? Target rises. This keeps blocks at ~10 minutes forever.

ASIC Mining in 2026

• Bitmain Antminer S21 Pro dominates
• Efficiency measured in J/TH (joules per terahash)
• More efficient = more profitable

Hashrate ATH

Bitcoin hashrate keeps climbing because mining is still profitable at scale. This means Bitcoin is more secure than ever.

The Energy Debate

Bitcoin uses ~200 TWh/year. But it often uses stranded renewable energy that would otherwise go to waste. The security of a $1+ trillion network requires real resources.

⚡ Value 4 Value — zap me if this was useful.