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The 2024 bitcoin halving event sparked major changes in the mining scene, according to the latest “State of the Network” report by Coin Metrics and analyst Matías Andrade.
Battle for Hashrate Dominance
The April 2024 halving, which slashed block rewards from 6.25 BTC to 3.125 BTC, severely impacted miner earnings. Coin Metrics’ new report reveals a sharp fall in BTC-denominated revenue per terahash per second (TH/s) of mining power right after the event.
However, a thrilling jump in bitcoin’s price to over the $105,000 range cushioned some of the blows, boosting USD-denominated revenue per TH/s. Even so, profitability still lags behind its pre-halving heyday, signaling tough times for miners trying to keep their profit margins intact.
Coin Metrics’ analysis shows that publicly traded bitcoin mining companies have outshone bitcoin’s price growth, with wild ups and downs. While bitcoin climbed by 54.3% since July, stocks of leading mining firms soared. Hut8, Bitdeer, and Core Scientific topped the charts, gaining 68%, 78.5%, and 60.2%, respectively.
Researcher Matías Andrade highlights that operational smarts, strong financials, and cutting-edge mining rigs have been pivotal in distinguishing the cream from the crop. Firms that held onto bitcoin through the bear market also enjoyed a financial boost as BTC prices bounced back. The tech in mining hardware has been racing forward.
Coin Metrics’ “MINE-MATCH” data points to a big switch to S19-series ASICs, like the XP and JPro models, which now rule the network’s hash power. This is a clear shift away from older models like the Antminer S9, which were mostly retired by 2020. Andrade stresses that miners need to keep their gear up-to-date to stay in the game in this ever-evolving mining arena. Looking forward, Coin Metrics’ report stresses the importance of miners adapting to bitcoin’s dwindling supply, fine-tuning operations, and tapping into cheap energy sources.
Andrade points out that staying innovative and efficient is crucial for long-term survival as competition heats up. The conclusion of the latest Coin Metrics’ Q4 2024 mining report paints a picture of a bitcoin mining industry wrestling with revenue dips due to the halving, while juggling hardware upgrades and a rollercoaster market. As bitcoin’s price makes a comeback, the spotlight is on operational toughness and tech savvy to lock in profits.