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No big changes for the Bitcoin network this week, as the market keeps stabilizing following the recent price increases. Hashrate experienced a slight pullback, but well withing normal weekly fluctuations. Difficulty didn’t change yet, as next adjustment is expected for Saturday. Meanwhile Miners’ daily revenue slightly declined despite a modest rise in Bitcoin’s price. This is still probably due to last week’s difficulty increase. However, average transaction fees rose 13.56% to $1.34, likely a temporary rebound following the recent fee floor drop. Together with the increases in Mempool size and total estimated transaction value, it could indicate an increase in network activity.
Bitcoin Minimum Fee Drops 90% Amid Network Slowdown
The minimum fee required for a Bitcoin transaction has been slashed by 90%, falling from 1 satoshi per vByte to just 0.1 sat/vByte. This change is sign of a dramatic decline in demand for block space on the Bitcoin network, as transaction volume continues to cool. With activity slowing, miners are now more willing to accept lower fees to fill blocks and keep operations running. While users benefit from cheaper on-chain transactions, the drop in fees draws concern from long-time Bitcoin advocates like Jack Dorsey, who emphasized the need for Bitcoin to remain relevant in day-to-day payments.
Miners still earn block rewards, currently worth over $360,000 per block, but with fewer high-fee transactions, their total earnings may dip, especially with rising difficulty. Some in the community, like pseudonymous miner Econoalchemist, argue that sub-1 sat/vByte fees have always been viable, but are now becoming more widely accepted as mempools and node operators align. As debate continues about Bitcoin’s role as a payment network versus a store of value, this drop in minimum fees shows the current underutilization of its transactional layer, even as its monetary value remains high.
Source : cryptopolitan.com
Source : decrypt.co
World War III Threats Loom Over European Bitcoin Mining Infrastructure
With rising geopolitical tensions and rearmament across Europe, the risk of a global conflict now poses a serious threat to Bitcoin mining operations throughout the continent and Eurasia. Germany, Norway, and Russia collectively host nearly 20% of the global Bitcoin hashrate, much of which is tied to renewable-powered facilities that are now deemed critical infrastructure. These mines integrate with local grids and heating systems, making them potential targets or collateral damage in a war scenario. In Norway, for example, the shutdown of a mining operation led to a $300 annual increase in household electricity bills.
Now miners in Sweden, Finland, Austria, and Iceland are similarly embedded in local infrastructure through heat recovery and grid-balancing systems. Meanwhile, Russian mining, particularly BitRiver’s massive Siberian operations and Gazpromneft’s oil-powered sites could also be at risk. Should a full-scale conflict disrupt European mining, hashpower could migrate toward the U.S., Latin America, or Asia. However, the U.S. is also not immune to such risks.
Source : crypto.news
France Proposes Bitcoin Mining as Strategic Use for Excess Nuclear Energy
French lawmakers are advancing a five-year pilot program that would allow electricity producers to redirect surplus power (especially from nuclear plants) toward Bitcoin mining operations. A bill submitted to the National Assembly on July 11 argues that using just 1 gigawatt of otherwise wasted energy could generate $100 to $150 million annually. This approach could help offset the fixed costs of maintaining France’s nuclear infrastructure, while also addressing grid imbalances caused by intermittent renewable sources like wind and solar.
The proposal advocates for co-locating mining centers at nuclear sites, which would only activate during periods of overproduction. Lawmakers also emphasized secondary benefits, such as heat reuse for district heating and industrial applications. Drawing on international examples, they argue that Bitcoin mining offers a flexible, real-time demand sink that can help stabilize the grid. If approved, the program will be overseen by the French Council of State and evaluated within six months. This move aligns France with countries like Finland, Belarus, and Pakistan that are already using crypto mining as a tool for energy optimization.
Source : cryptoslate.com
Bitcoin’s Empty Mempool Raises Concerns About Network Security
The Bitcoin mempool has recently cleared out, leaving it nearly empty. This unusual state, driven by persistently low on-chain activity, has intensified concerns over the network’s long-term security and sustainability. While low congestion means cheaper and faster transactions for users, it also results in reduced transaction fees for miners, at a time when block subsidies are already shrinking due to halvings.
Fee income has hit multi-year lows, now comprising less than 2% of miners’ total earnings. With block rewards declining over time, Bitcoin’s security model increasingly relies on fee-based incentives to sustain hashpower. Analysts warn that if user demand doesn’t pick up, or if viable Layer 2 activity fails to materialize, the network could face a gradual erosion of miner participation, threatening the decentralization and robustness of the system.
Source : thedefiant.io
BIT Mining Stock Surges 143% After Announcing Solana Pivot
BIT Mining, a U.S.-based Bitcoin and Dogecoin mining firm, saw its stock skyrocket 143% following the announcement of a pivot into Solana (SOL). The company plans to raise $200–$300 million to build a Solana treasury, and will convert its current crypto holdings into SOL. CEO Xianfeng Yang described the move as a bold bet on one of the blockchain space’s most dynamic ecosystems.
This change comes as mining economics tighten, with rising difficulty and shrinking rewards squeezing margins. Though traditionally focused on Bitcoin, BIT Mining has mined other coins as well. The pivot to Solana aligns with a broader trend of public firms diversifying their crypto treasuries. BIT Mining joins a growing list of companies moving beyond Bitcoin, echoing moves by firms like Classover and Metaplanet.
Source : decrypt.co
ASIC Bitcoin Miners Return to Profit as BTC Price and Hashprice Surge
Bitcoin miners are back in profit mode thanks to a 14.6% price increase over the past month, lifting the hashprice to $60.49 per PH/s, up from $53.20. The top-performing ASIC rig, Bitmain’s Antminer S21e XP Hydro 3U, now brings in $35.66 in daily profit, despite its high 11,180W consumption. Other leading machines include the Teraflux AH3880 and Bitdeer’s Sealminer A2 Pro Hydro, with profits ranging from $19 to $30 per day depending on efficiency and hashrate.
Even older and lower-power rigs, like the Antminer S17+ or hobbyist micro-miners such as the Bitaxe Supra Hex 701, are turning small profits under favorable electricity rates. Meanwhile, the once-dominant Antminer S9 series is mostly unprofitable at standard $0.06/kWh power rates but can become viable again with electricity under $0.02/kWh. The broader takeaway: rising Bitcoin prices are revitalizing miner profitability across the spectrum, from industrial setups to garage-scale operations.
Source : bitcoin.com