Bitcoin Mining News: BTC crosses 1 zettahash, Tether wins in court, U.S. eyes Bitmain

Industry Overview - Bitcoin miners are increasingly integrating with High-Performance Computing (HPC), indicating a shift in operational focus that is expected to strengthen over time [1] - The Bitcoin mining network has achieved a significant milestone, reaching one zettahash of computing power, which equates to one sextillion computations per second [6] Market Performance - Cipher Mining's stock rose by 39% to $10.32, while Bitfarms saw a 62% increase, nearing $2 per share after CEO Ben Gagnon announced stock purchases [1] - IREN also performed well, surpassing $30 per share [1] Bitcoin Difficulty Adjustments - Recent Bitcoin difficulty adjustments show a significant upward trend, with a 7.96% increase in July followed by a 4.89% adjustment, and expectations of an additional 8% increase [2][4] - The current hash price is estimated to be between $53 to $56 per petahash per day [3] Legal and Regulatory Developments - Tether is involved in a legal dispute with Swan Bitcoin, claiming exclusive ownership over intellectual property developed in their joint venture [8][9] - A GOP lawmaker has urged a Treasury investigation into Bitmain's operations, citing potential risks to U.S. energy grid security [13][14] Company-Specific Developments - Canaan has reported strong performance, mining 1,400 Bitcoin in Q2 and shifting its operations to the U.S. [16] - Ocean Pool is facing controversy over executive compensation, with unconfirmed reports suggesting a salary of $750,000 for its CEO, which is considered high for the industry [17][18]