The Bitcoin network concluded 2025 with a mining difficulty of 148.2 trillion, established in its final adjustment of the year, according to network data.

The figure represents a 35% increase from the 109.8 trillion difficulty recorded on January 1, 2025, marking a year of expansion in network security and mining competition.

Mining difficulty measures the computational challenge miners face to find a new block. The Bitcoin protocol adjusts this figure every two weeks to maintain an average block time near ten minutes, regardless of total network computing power, or hashrate. Higher difficulty indicates increased miner participation in securing the blockchain.

According to data from CoinWarz, the year’s highest difficulty reached 156 trillion on November 11. The lowest point in the final three months was 146.7 trillion in late October.

The current difficulty stands approximately 5% below the November peak while remaining 35% above the year’s starting level. The increase reflects miners’ deployment of more powerful, efficient machines throughout the year.

The next adjustment, projected for January 8, is expected to raise the difficulty to approximately 149.3 trillion, according to network projections.

The relationship between Bitcoin’s price and mining difficulty showed variation throughout 2025. When difficulty reached its annual high in November, Bitcoin’s price was elevated. Weeks earlier, when Bitcoin set a price record, difficulty measured 146.7 trillion.

Bitcoin is currently trading approximately 4% lower than its price at the start of 2025. The consistent rise in difficulty throughout the year occurred as miners continued operations following the network’s halving event, which reduced the block reward.