Hash rate measures the amount of computational power that’s being used to secure the Bitcoin network.
It represents how many cryptographic calculations (hashes) miners are performing per second while competing to add new blocks to the blockchain and thereby claim the block reward.
In Bitcoin, hash rate is often used as an indicator of:
- network security,
- miner participation,
- changes in mining conditions and technology
Hash rate is influenced by economic incentives. When mining is more profitable — due to higher bitcoin prices or lower electricity costs — more miners tend to participate, increasing total hash rate. When profitability falls, some miners may shut down equipment, reducing it.
Bitcoin Network Hash Rate
Hash rate is typically expressed in units such as terahashes or exahashes per second. You can convert between these units using my hash rate converter.
As of late 2025, the Bitcoin network reached the milestone of 1 zetahash, equivalent to one sextillion hashes per second (that’s 1 followed by - fittingly - 21 zeros).