Hashrate
Computational power measured in hashes per second (TH/s, EH/s), representing a miner's or network's processing capability.
What is Hashrate?
Hashrate is the measure of computational power used in Bitcoin mining. It represents the number of hash calculations a miner or the entire network can perform per second. Each hash is an attempt to find a valid block by solving a cryptographic puzzle based on the SHA-256 algorithm.
How Hashrate is Measured
Hashrate is expressed in orders of magnitude:
| Unit | Hashes per Second | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
| TH/s | 1 trillion | Individual ASIC miners |
| PH/s | 1 quadrillion | Small to mid-size pools |
| EH/s | 1 quintillion | Large pools, network total |
A modern ASIC miner like the Antminer S21 produces around 200 TH/s. The entire Bitcoin network currently operates at over 600 EH/s, meaning trillions of calculations happen every second across all miners worldwide.
Why Hashrate Matters
Your hashrate directly determines your share of mining rewards. A miner contributing 100 TH/s to a pool with 10 EH/s total hashrate controls roughly 0.001% of that pool's power. When the pool finds a block, your payout is proportional to your hashrate contribution.
Higher network hashrate means more competition and greater security for Bitcoin, but it also means each individual miner earns less per TH/s unless they upgrade their hardware. This relationship between hashrate and earnings is why miners constantly monitor both their own hashrate and the network's total.
Miner Hashrate vs Network Hashrate
Your miner's hashrate is a fixed value determined by your hardware. Network hashrate fluctuates as miners join or leave. The ratio between the two determines your expected daily earnings. When network hashrate rises without your hashrate increasing, your earnings decrease proportionally.