Key Takeaways:
- Bitcoin’s global hashrate dropped an estimated 8%, with roughly 400,000 miners shutting down in Xinjiang.
- The decline follows widespread mining farm closures in the region, according to Nano Labs founder Jack Kong.
- Analysts expect difficult adjustments to stabilize the network, while global mining power continues shifting away from China.
Bitcoin’s network just experienced one of its sharpest short-term drops of the year. A significant segment of China’s underground mining capacity appears to have gone dark almost simultaneously, removing a large block of computing power from the global pool. Industry observers are now assessing what this disruption means for network stability, miner profitability and the broader geopolitical reshuffling of Bitcoin mining.
Xinjiang Shutdowns Trigger Sudden Hashrate Shock
Nano Labs founder Jack Kong posted on X that large-scale Bitcoin mining operations in Xinjiang are shutting down, causing a measurable impact on the global network. He estimated that around 400,000 ASIC miners went offline, based on a typical average of 250 TH/s per machine. This equates to roughly 100 EH/s in lost hashrate, consistent with an 8% network decline.
Kong’s note did not specify why multiple farms shut down, but miners in China have historically dealt with unstable operating environments. Even after the 2021 nationwide ban, regional enforcement varies, and mining continues in semi-official or discreet arrangements. These operations are vulnerable to sudden local inspections, electricity controls, or political directives that can cut power without advance warning.
According to live data from Hashrate Index, Bitcoin’s hashrate slipped from around 1,124 EH/s to near 1,078 EH/s following the outages. While the decline is substantial, it remains within the network’s resilience parameters. Short-term block time delays were observed, but the network continued functioning without interruption.
Read More: Bitcoin Hashrate Rockets Past 1 Zettahash, Mining Power Hits 1 Sextillion
From Xinjiang to the World: How Regional Disruptions Hit Bitcoin’s Hashrate
Xinjiang has long played a critical role in Bitcoin’s mining story. The region offers cheap coal-based power and large-scale industrial zones suitable for hosting thousands of rigs. Even after China’s crackdown, operators continued to build or maintain facilities in the area, often using alternative electricity arrangements or informal grid connections.
But these advantages coexist with high policy risk:
- Local regulators frequently run inspections on heavy-power users.
- Mining operations often lack clear legal protection.
- Electricity providers may be ordered to shut down high-load facilities abruptly.
This creates a fragile operating environment. When multiple sites power down simultaneously as seen this week, the global network immediately reflects the impact.
Some miners use firmware to underclock machines to cut energy use, a strategy highlighted by Luxor’s Ethan Vera, who noted that falling hashprice has been squeezing miners’ margins worldwide. In an environment of low rewards and rising operational risk, some operators simply switch off during periods of low profitability.
What an 8% Hashrate Drop Means for Bitcoin
Nonetheless, Bitcoin is designed to handle such occasions, despite the news. Its difficulty adjustment system is automatic to adjust to variations in network power.
Read More: KuCoin Unveils KuMining Cloud Platform With 10 EH/s BTC Hashrate and ~10% of Dogecoin Network
