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Bitcoin miners are facing a sharp squeeze on profits as the network’s computing power reaches record levels. While more miners compete to secure the blockchain, the reward per unit of computing power is falling, leaving even some of the largest operators struggling to break even.
Bitcoin mining has long been a booming business for entrepreneurs looking to extract the cryptocurrency. Still, the energy-intensive process has become far less profitable due to its soaring electricity costs.
However, growing competition, a decline in Bitcoin’s price, and rising operational costs are beginning to test the industry. The challenge of keeping mining profitable is so great that many miners are exploring high-performance computing and other artificial intelligence workloads to seek new revenue streams.
In October 2025, the Bitcoin network’s hashrate broke the 1.1 zettahashes-per-second mark for the first time. The hashrate is the overall computing power committed to securing the network and validating transactions. And while higher hashrates contribute to Bitcoin’s security, they also make mining more challenging. Miners now face increased competition for the same rewards, and only the most efficient operators can maintain healthy margins.
Meanwhile, the “hashprice,” a crucial measurement that denotes revenue per unit of computing power, has tumbled. By November, it had fallen to about $35 per PH/s, the lowest it had been in over five years. Declining Bitcoin prices and dwindling transaction fees are exacerbating the issue. As rewards in terms of coins per hash dwindle, many miners are struggling to recoup their electricity and equipment costs. Payback periods for new rigs are stretched out to more than 1,200 days, or over three years.
Miners take on more debt to stay afloat
To stay afloat, many mining companies are borrowing heavily. Convertible debt and other financial instruments are now crucial for paying increasingly high energy bills, upgrading equipment, and meeting daily expenses. Public miners, in particular, have taken advantage of the debt market aggressively in recent months, seeking to preserve liquidity as Bitcoin prices fluctuate.
This already stretches the finances even further due to increasing overheads. Electricity rates in some of the major mining regions are higher, and second-hand equipment is more expensive than ever. Companies are facing regulatory and logistical hurdles, including permitting delays, supply chain challenges, and compliance with regulations.
Others are hoarding Bitcoin as a hedge against market uncertainty. Larger inventories can cushion companies against short-term revenue fluctuations, but they also expose firms to price swings, adding to their financial uncertainty. That need has only intensified as miners face increasing pressure on their low margins and mounting debt.
As the vice tightens, several miners are investigating high-performance computing (HPC) and artificial intelligence workloads to generate new revenue streams. Companies are no longer waiting to mine Bitcoin directly; instead, they are switching their infrastructure to host GPUs for AI cloud services and other compute-intensive tasks.
Large operators have secured long-term agreements with technology firms to deliver such services. Others are going all in, gradually pivoting away from traditional Bitcoin mines to the business of AI data centers. For starters, Bitfarm says it will exit Bitcoin mining altogether by 2027 and redirect the hundreds of megawatts currently allocated for crypto mining to facilitate AI computing.
Miners face rising risks and uncertain markets
However, amid those struggles, some miners are finding new opportunities. Publicly listed companies have seen some recovery in stock prices, partially resulting from investor enthusiasm for the AI and HPC transition.
Analysts say that companies able to manage costs effectively and diversify their operations will emerge stronger, while less efficient miners may struggle or be forced to exit the market.
However, the path forward is far from clear. The price of Bitcoin remains volatile, and the difficulty and hashrate continue to increase. Additionally, there are energy costs, regulatory challenges, and capital requirements for growth to consider. The next year could be a moment of reckoning for the wider industry, one that divides firms capable of change from those fated to remain stuck in their ways.
