Bitcoin’s mining difficulty has reached a record high, increasing by 4.89% to 136.04 T as reported by CloverPool data on September 7, 2025. This marks the latest step in intensified competition among miners and a rise in hash power that is impacting profitability. Major players like Foundry USA, AntPool, and ViaBTC have dominated over 60% of the global hash rate, signaling a shift towards larger-scale mining operations. The increase reflects a surge in network hash power to 975.41 EH/s as of September 5, 2025. Miners are facing increased pressure from this competition, posing challenges for smaller operators and creating an environment favorable to established, capitalized entities.