Bitcoin’s network has achieved an unprecedented milestone, reaching 1 Zetahash per second (ZH/s) in mining power for the first time in its 16-year history. This remarkable technical achievement comes as Bitcoin’s price experiences significant volatility, dropping below $80K and erasing $160B in market value.
Breaking Down Bitcoin’s Historic Mining Achievement
Multiple blockchain tracking services have confirmed this groundbreaking achievement between April 4-5, 2025. According to mempool.space, Bitcoin’s hashrate peaked at 1.025 ZH/s on April 5, while BTC Frame reported a slightly earlier breakthrough at 1.02 ZH/s on April 4. Coinwarz data showed an even higher peak of 1.1 ZH/s.
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Understanding the Scale of Growth
To put this achievement in perspective, the current hashrate represents a 1,000-fold increase since January 2016, when Bitcoin first reached 1 Exahash per second. The network now processes approximately 40,000 times more calculations per second than Litecoin, the second-largest proof-of-work cryptocurrency network.
Commercial Mining Operations Lead the Charge
The surge in hashrate coincides with increased competition among commercial Bitcoin mining firms. At least 24 publicly listed companies now operate Bitcoin mining equipment, with MARA Holdings leading at over 50 EH/s of computing power. However, as Bitcoin’s price recently dropped 8% to $77K, analysts warn that less efficient miners may face challenges ahead.
Market Impact and Future Outlook
This technical milestone occurred during a broader market downturn, with Bitcoin’s price experiencing significant pressure. The contrast between growing network strength and price volatility highlights the complex dynamics of the cryptocurrency market in 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Zetahash?
A Zetahash (ZH/s) is a unit of computational power equal to 1,000 Exahashes per second, used to measure Bitcoin’s mining network strength.
How does this affect Bitcoin security?
Higher hashrates indicate stronger network security, making it increasingly difficult and costly to attempt a 51% attack.
Will this impact Bitcoin’s price?
While network strength typically correlates with long-term value, short-term price movements are influenced by multiple factors beyond hashrate.