Mining Difficulty Back up as Hashrate Returns to All-Time Highs

The difficulty of mining bitcoins has increased by 2.9% to 40,640,955,017, thus avoiding its first three-period losing streak since 2011.
The rise corresponds with a jump in total network Hash Rate Hash Rate A hash rate is the measure of a cryptocurrency miner’s performance and a key security metric. In the context of mining, the more hashing or computing power in a given network, the greater its security and its overall resistance to attackMining hashrate is a key security metric. The more hashing (computing) power in the network, the greater its security and its overall resistance to attack. Hash rate is also a measurement of the output of a device that is used to add transactions to a blockchain A hash rate is the measure of a cryptocurrency miner’s performance and a key security metric. In the context of mining, the more hashing or computing power in a given network, the greater its security and its overall resistance to attackMining hashrate is a key security metric. The more hashing (computing) power in the network, the greater its security and its overall resistance to attack. Hash rate is also a measurement of the output of a device that is used to add transactions to a blockchain Read this Term during the past week. It is challenging all-time highs of 330 PH/s, a level which it has been hovering near for two months without seriously breaking it.
Two weeks ago, the difficulty level dropped for a second consecutive period for the first time since December 27, 2012. As of last week, it had appeared that it would again fall from its level of 39,457,671,307, and the hashrate was at a two-month low near 270 PH/s.
The rise comes despite a languishing Bitcoin Bitcoin While some may still be wondering what is Bitcoin, who created Bitcoin, or how does Bitcoin work, one thing is certain: Bitcoin has changed the world.No one can remain indifferent to this revolutionary, decentralized, digital asset nor to its blockchain technology.In fact, we’ve gone a long way ever since a Florida resident Laszlo Hanyecz made BTC’s first official commercial transaction with a real company by trading 10,000 Bitcoins for 2 pizzas at his local Papa John’s.One could now argue that While some may still be wondering what is Bitcoin, who created Bitcoin, or how does Bitcoin work, one thing is certain: Bitcoin has changed the world.No one can remain indifferent to this revolutionary, decentralized, digital asset nor to its blockchain technology.In fact, we’ve gone a long way ever since a Florida resident Laszlo Hanyecz made BTC’s first official commercial transaction with a real company by trading 10,000 Bitcoins for 2 pizzas at his local Papa John’s.One could now argue that Read this Term price, which has actually declined since the previous difficulty adjustment. It is possible that unprofitable miners that left the network have been replenished by a new glut of efficient hardware deemed more likely to generate a positive return on investment.
Guy Corem, CEO of Spondoolies-Tech, an Israeli mining hardware startup that recently secured $5 million in funding, told DC Magnates that some of the growing mining pools are upgrading to more efficient hardware. As an example, he pointed to AntPool, which currently generates roughly 13% of the network's mining power, according to blockchain.info. He says their growth has been powered by the Antminer S5, which yields a hashrate of 1.155 TH/s and a power efficiency of 0.51 J/GH. He added that newer generations of hardware, such as Spondoolies' SP20, SP31 and SP35, are capable of power efficiencies below 0.5 J/GH.
Corem also believes that a lot of SHA256 activity has been restored to the network after being diverted for the mining of GAW's Paycoin.
Overall, 2014 saw the difficulty increase 34-fold, corresponding with a similar increase in total network hashrate.
For 2015, it is expected that a new generation of ASICs will add further efficiencies and may outpace additional bitcoin price declines should they occur.
The difficulty of mining bitcoins has increased by 2.9% to 40,640,955,017, thus avoiding its first three-period losing streak since 2011.
The rise corresponds with a jump in total network Hash Rate Hash Rate A hash rate is the measure of a cryptocurrency miner’s performance and a key security metric. In the context of mining, the more hashing or computing power in a given network, the greater its security and its overall resistance to attackMining hashrate is a key security metric. The more hashing (computing) power in the network, the greater its security and its overall resistance to attack. Hash rate is also a measurement of the output of a device that is used to add transactions to a blockchain A hash rate is the measure of a cryptocurrency miner’s performance and a key security metric. In the context of mining, the more hashing or computing power in a given network, the greater its security and its overall resistance to attackMining hashrate is a key security metric. The more hashing (computing) power in the network, the greater its security and its overall resistance to attack. Hash rate is also a measurement of the output of a device that is used to add transactions to a blockchain Read this Term during the past week. It is challenging all-time highs of 330 PH/s, a level which it has been hovering near for two months without seriously breaking it.
Two weeks ago, the difficulty level dropped for a second consecutive period for the first time since December 27, 2012. As of last week, it had appeared that it would again fall from its level of 39,457,671,307, and the hashrate was at a two-month low near 270 PH/s.
The rise comes despite a languishing Bitcoin Bitcoin While some may still be wondering what is Bitcoin, who created Bitcoin, or how does Bitcoin work, one thing is certain: Bitcoin has changed the world.No one can remain indifferent to this revolutionary, decentralized, digital asset nor to its blockchain technology.In fact, we’ve gone a long way ever since a Florida resident Laszlo Hanyecz made BTC’s first official commercial transaction with a real company by trading 10,000 Bitcoins for 2 pizzas at his local Papa John’s.One could now argue that While some may still be wondering what is Bitcoin, who created Bitcoin, or how does Bitcoin work, one thing is certain: Bitcoin has changed the world.No one can remain indifferent to this revolutionary, decentralized, digital asset nor to its blockchain technology.In fact, we’ve gone a long way ever since a Florida resident Laszlo Hanyecz made BTC’s first official commercial transaction with a real company by trading 10,000 Bitcoins for 2 pizzas at his local Papa John’s.One could now argue that Read this Term price, which has actually declined since the previous difficulty adjustment. It is possible that unprofitable miners that left the network have been replenished by a new glut of efficient hardware deemed more likely to generate a positive return on investment.
Guy Corem, CEO of Spondoolies-Tech, an Israeli mining hardware startup that recently secured $5 million in funding, told DC Magnates that some of the growing mining pools are upgrading to more efficient hardware. As an example, he pointed to AntPool, which currently generates roughly 13% of the network's mining power, according to blockchain.info. He says their growth has been powered by the Antminer S5, which yields a hashrate of 1.155 TH/s and a power efficiency of 0.51 J/GH. He added that newer generations of hardware, such as Spondoolies' SP20, SP31 and SP35, are capable of power efficiencies below 0.5 J/GH.
Corem also believes that a lot of SHA256 activity has been restored to the network after being diverted for the mining of GAW's Paycoin.
Overall, 2014 saw the difficulty increase 34-fold, corresponding with a similar increase in total network hashrate.
For 2015, it is expected that a new generation of ASICs will add further efficiencies and may outpace additional bitcoin price declines should they occur.