PlanB says Bitcoin mining difficulty could post first-ever annual decline

Bitcoin mining difficulty has fallen to 126.2T in 2026 from the end of last year, and if that trend holds through year-end, it would mark the first year-over-year decline on record, well-known Bitcoin market analyst PlanB said on X. According to data PlanB shared, year-end mining difficulty had risen every year since 2009, reaching 148.3T at the end of 2025, before falling to 126.2T this year.