Bitcoin Miners Revive Old Machines as Hash Rate Reaches Record Highs Amidst Price Surge

Bitcoin miners reactivated older machines in Q1 2024, contributing to a record hash rate of 631 EH/s. Improved market conditions made mining profitable again, leading to a 14.7% increase in hash rate since the year's start, equivalent to adding 375,000 Antminers S21 200 TH/s. However, transaction fees have declined despite the hash rate surge, presenting a challenge for miners accustomed to high fees.

Bitcoin Miners Resurrect Older Machines as Hash Rate Surges to Record Levels Amidst Historic Price Rally

In a testament to the allure of Bitcoin's escalating value, miners have breathed new life into their aging crypto-mining machines, propelling the network's hash rate to unprecedented heights. This strategic move coincides with Bitcoin's triumphant ascent to an all-time high in early March, further fueling the industry's growth momentum.

"As market conditions have improved, miners who were previously idling due to low profitability have seized the opportunity to resume operations," explains Nico Smid, founder of Digital Mining Solutions, in the firm's first-quarter Bitcoin mining review published on April 2.

Bitcoin's hash rate, a measure of the processing power dedicated to the Bitcoin blockchain, has mirrored its price trajectory, soaring by an impressive 14.7% since the start of 2024. This surge is equivalent to adding over 375,000 Antminer S21 200 TH/s machines to the network.

"Reactivating these older miners has contributed significantly to this growth." The deployment of Bitmain S21s and other cutting-edge mining equipment has also played a pivotal role in driving Bitcoin's hash rate to new records over the first three months of the year.

On March 11, Bitcoin's hash rate reached a 7-day moving average peak of 631 exahashes per second (EH/s), just a week after the cryptocurrency surpassed its previous all-time high of $68,990. Bitcoin's upward trajectory continued, reaching a new high of $73,738 three days later on March 14, according to CoinGecko.

Despite a decline in transaction fees, miner revenues reached an all-time high on March 10. "While this benefits users seeking swift transactions, it presents a less lucrative scenario for miners who have become accustomed to elevated transaction fees in recent months," notes Smid.

Amidst the resurgence of older miners, the acquisition of new application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) machines is experiencing a lull. Many Bitcoin miners are adopting a cautious approach, postponing investments as the halving event draws near.

"Miners are taking a 'wait-and-see' stance in anticipation of the halving," says Smid, citing an ASIC Jungle survey that revealed 65% of customers are deferring purchases until after the event.

Scheduled for April 2024, the Bitcoin halving will reduce miner rewards from 6.25 BTC ($414,000) to 3.125 BTC ($212,000) based on current prices.