Bitcoin Difficulty Falls 2.3% as Hashrate Slips Below 1 ZH/s and Block Times Slow

This week, the Bitcoin network recorded its second consecutive difficulty reduction, easing another 2.3% on May 1 after the April 17 epoch posted a 2.43% decline. Hashrate has also trended lower, now resting beneath the 1 zettahash per second (ZH/s) threshold.

Key Takeaways:

• Bitcoin difficulty fell 2.3% on May 1, marking 6 cuts in 2026 as hashrate dipped below 1 ZH/s.
• Over the last seven days, Foundry USA mined 31.51% of 987 blocks, and with Antpool and ViaBTC combined, it pushes the three pools share to 58.35%.
• Hashprice rose to $37.52/PH/s as block times hit 10:28, with another difficulty adjustment eyed around May 17.

Bitcoin Adjustment at Block 947520 Cuts Difficulty 2.3%

The networks computational power on Sunday, May 3, 2026, has ranged between 899 exahash per second (EH/s) and 958 EH/s over the past 24 hours. Not long ago, the hashrate exceeded 1,000 EH/s, equivalent to a single ZH/s, but began drifting lower on April 19. When the difficulty adjusted at block height 947520, the hashrate was coasting along at around 899 EH/s.

The May 1 adjustment represents the networks sixth reduction of 2026 out of nine total epochs. After the latest change, difficulty stands at 132.47 trillion, and this level is expected to hold until on or around May 17.

Bitcoin network hashrate according to hashrateindex.com on May 3, 2026. One-month view via the seven-day simple moving average (SMA).

What stands out in the latest hashrate dip and difficulty adjustment is that the networks hashprice climbed from a daily rate of $34.39 per petahash per second (PH/s) to $37.52 per PH/s. Miner earnings improved during this stretch, yet overall computational power continued to drift lower from mid-April through the present period.

Block intervals have lengthened, and even after the previous days epoch adjustment, they remain slightly behind schedule. The average block time on May 3 stood at roughly 10 minutes 28 seconds. If that tempo persists, another downward adjustment could materialize on May 17, though it remains premature to draw firm conclusions.

Miners still have more than 1,800 blocks left to process before that point, leaving ample room for conditions to shift. Over the past week, 987 blocks were produced, with Foundry USA accounting for 311, or 31.51%.

Just behind, Antpool uncovered roughly 163 blocks, representing about 16.51% of last week‘s total. In third place, ViaBTC identified 102 blocks, securing 10.33% of the network’s total hashrate.

Together, these three mining pools account for 58.35% of the networks total hashrate. Meanwhile, miningpoolstats.stream data reports that 115 distinct entities or pools are currently contributing computational power to the Bitcoin network.

As the next adjustment window approaches, miners are navigating a narrow corridor where improved hashprice offers relief, but softer hashrate and slower blocks introduce uncertainty.

With more than 1,800 blocks remaining and conditions still in flux, the networks trajectory into mid-May will depend on whether computational power stabilizes or continues its gradual retreat in the days ahead. Market participants will be watching for directional clarity.