Bitcoin's mining difficulty dropped 2.3% on May 1, the second straight cut after a 2.43% decline on April 17. The network's hashrate has now fallen below 1 zettahash per second, slowing block times across the blockchain.
Two Cuts in 30 Days
Miners saw adjustments hit twice in rapid succession. The April 17 cut was steep. Then May 1 brought another pullback. It's rare to see two consecutive reductions this year. The network's computing power has been sliding for weeks. Miners are feeling the squeeze.
Hashrate Hits Sub-1 ZH/s Mark
The total hashrate now sits below 1 zettahash per second. That's a measurable dip from recent levels. Less hashing power means the network processes transactions slower. Security margins tighten with each drop. The shift happened fast this month.
Block Times Drift Longer
Slower block times are the direct result. Confirmations take more time now. Users see delays they didn't face last month. The slowdown started when hashrate dropped. It's testing the network's real-time performance. Some transactions linger longer than usual. This isn't the first time this quarter.
