Bitcoin Miners Face Squeeze as Hash Price Nears Break-Even Levels

Core Insights - The Bitcoin mining industry is facing significant profitability challenges, with hash prices dropping to around $42 per petahash per second (PH/s), nearing break-even levels that threaten smaller mining operations [1][7] - The hash price has been on a downward trend since July, when it peaked at $62 per PH/s, leading to concerns about the viability of weaker miners and prompting larger firms to tighten spending [2][7] - The total hashrate of the Bitcoin network has surpassed 1 zetahash per second (ZH/s), increasing electricity and hardware demands, while many mining firms are shifting focus to AI infrastructure for better margins [5][7] Industry Impact - The decline in hash prices is affecting the entire mining supply chain, with hardware providers experiencing slower sales as miners delay or cancel orders [3] - Manufacturers like Bitdeer are pivoting to self-mining and exploring opportunities in AI and high-performance computing (HPC) to counteract declining hardware demand [4] - Major mining firms, such as Cipher Mining and IREN, are diversifying their business models by securing multi-billion-dollar AI infrastructure deals with tech giants like Amazon and Microsoft [6][7]