Bitcoin hash rate is the total computational power securing the Bitcoin network, measured in exahashes per second (EH/s). As of early 2026, the network operates above 800 EH/s, making Bitcoin the most powerful distributed computing network ever built.
Hash rate directly determines the cost of attacking the network. Mining difficulty adjusts every 2,016 blocks to maintain 10-minute block times. Halvings cut miner revenue by 50%, forcing marginal miners offline until difficulty adjusts.
Sustained hash rate growth signals miner confidence. Sustained declines signal industry stress. The Hash Ribbon indicator uses hash rate moving averages to identify capitulation and recovery.