# How Does a Decrease in Network Hash Rate Affect the Difficulty? ⎊ Path

**Published:** 2025-12-05
**Author:** Greeks.live
**Categories:** Path

---

## How Does a Decrease in Network Hash Rate Affect the Difficulty?

A decrease in the total network hash rate means that blocks are being found slower than the target time. When the difficulty adjustment period arrives, the protocol will algorithmically decrease the mining difficulty.

This makes it easier for the remaining miners to find a valid block hash, thus restoring the average block discovery time to the intended schedule. A difficulty decrease typically increases the profitability for the remaining miners.

- [In the Context of Options Trading, How Is the Relationship between Share Difficulty and Network Difficulty Analogous to “In-the-Money” Vs. “Out-of-the-Money”?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/in-the-context-of-options-trading-how-is-the-relationship-between-share-difficulty-and-network-difficulty-analogous-to-in-the-money-vs-out-of-the-money/)

- [How Does the pool’S Target Difficulty for Shares Compare to the Network’s Target Difficulty?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/how-does-the-pools-target-difficulty-for-shares-compare-to-the-networks-target-difficulty/)

- [What Is the Relationship between Network Hash Rate and Mining Difficulty Adjustments?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/what-is-the-relationship-between-network-hash-rate-and-mining-difficulty-adjustments/)

- [How Do Other Cryptocurrencies, like Ethereum, Differ in Their Target Block Times?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/how-do-other-cryptocurrencies-like-ethereum-differ-in-their-target-block-times/)

- [How Is the “Target Hash” Calculated from the Difficulty Setting?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/how-is-the-target-hash-calculated-from-the-difficulty-setting/)

- [What Is the Relationship between Hash Rate and the Difficulty Target?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/what-is-the-relationship-between-hash-rate-and-the-difficulty-target/)

- [How Is the ‘Target’ Hash Value Calculated Based on the Difficulty?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/how-is-the-target-hash-value-calculated-based-on-the-difficulty/)

- [What Is a “Hash Rate” and How Does It Affect the Difficulty Target?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/what-is-a-hash-rate-and-how-does-it-affect-the-difficulty-target/)

## Glossar

### [Difficulty Decrease](https://learn.greeks.live/area/difficulty-decrease/?utm_source=crypto.greeks.live&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=satellite)

Adjustment ⎊ Difficulty Decrease is the protocol adjustment mechanism designed to lower the computational hurdle required for a miner to successfully find a valid block hash when network hash rate temporarily declines.

### [Network Hash Rate](https://learn.greeks.live/area/network-hash-rate/?utm_source=crypto.greeks.live&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=satellite)

Security ⎊ Network hash rate represents the collective computational power dedicated to a proof-of-work blockchain, directly influencing the cost and feasibility of malicious attacks.

### [Difficulty Adjustment Period](https://learn.greeks.live/area/difficulty-adjustment-period/?utm_source=crypto.greeks.live&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=satellite)

Function ⎊ Difficulty Adjustment Period defines the fixed interval, measured in blocks or time, after which a Proof of Work cryptocurrency protocol automatically recalculates and applies a new mining difficulty target.

### [Network Hash](https://learn.greeks.live/area/network-hash/?utm_source=crypto.greeks.live&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=satellite)

Computation ⎊ Network hash, within cryptocurrency contexts, represents the quantifiable difficulty of mining a block, directly influencing block creation time and security parameters.

### [Total Network Hash Rate](https://learn.greeks.live/area/total-network-hash-rate/?utm_source=crypto.greeks.live&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=satellite)

Hash ⎊ The total network hash rate represents the cumulative computational power dedicated to validating transactions and securing a proof-of-work cryptocurrency network, such as Bitcoin.

### [Block Discovery Time](https://learn.greeks.live/area/block-discovery-time/?utm_source=crypto.greeks.live&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=satellite)

Measurement ⎊ Block Discovery Time refers to the average interval required for a new, valid block to be successfully mined and appended to the longest chain, a crucial metric for blockchain performance.

## Discover More

### [How Does a Decrease in Vega Affect an Option Seller's Position?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/how-does-a-decrease-in-vega-affect-an-option-sellers-position/?utm_source=crypto.greeks.live&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=satellite)
![How Does a Decrease in Vega Affect an Option Seller's Position?](https://learn.greeks.live/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Segmented-Biphasic-Pharmaceutical-Casing-Represents-Asymmetric-Risk-In-Decentralized-Finance-Options-Pricing.webp)

Drop in implied volatility is beneficial; Option premium decreases; Seller profits by buying back cheaper.

### [What Is "Rentable Hash Rate" and Why Is It a Risk Factor for Low-Difficulty Coins?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/what-is-rentable-hash-rate-and-why-is-it-a-risk-factor-for-low-difficulty-coins/?utm_source=crypto.greeks.live&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=satellite)
![What Is "Rentable Hash Rate" and Why Is It a Risk Factor for Low-Difficulty Coins?](https://learn.greeks.live/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Analyzing-Solid-State-Module-Integrity-for-Decentralized-Finance-Infrastructure-Security-Protocols.webp)

Hash rate can be rented on-demand, enabling attackers to quickly acquire 51% power without owning hardware.

### [Does Basis Risk Increase or Decrease with the Correlation between the Derivative and Its Underlying Asset?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/does-basis-risk-increase-or-decrease-with-the-correlation-between-the-derivative-and-its-underlying-asset/?utm_source=crypto.greeks.live&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=satellite)
![Does Basis Risk Increase or Decrease with the Correlation between the Derivative and Its Underlying Asset?](https://learn.greeks.live/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Abstract-Representation-of-Staked-Asset-Volatility-and-Multi-Asset-Hedging-Mechanisms.webp)

Basis risk decreases with higher correlation because the derivative and underlying prices move more closely together.

### [What Is the Difference between 'Hash Rate' and 'Network Difficulty'?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/what-is-the-difference-between-hash-rate-and-network-difficulty/?utm_source=crypto.greeks.live&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=satellite)
![What Is the Difference between 'Hash Rate' and 'Network Difficulty'?](https://learn.greeks.live/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Abstract-Visualization-of-Centralized-Token-Swaps-Interlocking-with-Decentralized-Exchange-Protocol-Structures.webp)

Hash rate is the total speed of mining; difficulty is the target challenge that adjusts to keep block time constant.

### [Does Basis Risk Increase or Decrease as the Time to Expiration Shortens?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/does-basis-risk-increase-or-decrease-as-the-time-to-expiration-shortens/?utm_source=crypto.greeks.live&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=satellite)
![Does Basis Risk Increase or Decrease as the Time to Expiration Shortens?](https://learn.greeks.live/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/X-Ray-Chronometer-Hand-Vectors-Suggesting-Implied-Volatility-Skew-in-Decentralized-Finance.webp)

Basis risk generally increases as expiration nears due to delta volatility and potential divergence from the underlying asset's price.

### [How Does a Sudden Drop in a Major Cryptocurrency's Price Affect Its Total Network Hash Rate?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/how-does-a-sudden-drop-in-a-major-cryptocurrencys-price-affect-its-total-network-hash-rate/?utm_source=crypto.greeks.live&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=satellite)
![How Does a Sudden Drop in a Major Cryptocurrency's Price Affect Its Total Network Hash Rate?](https://learn.greeks.live/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Precision-Engineering-Interface-for-On-Chain-Volatility-Surface-Calibration-and-Settlement-Protocols.webp)

Price drops force inefficient miners to shut down, leading to a decrease in the overall computational power securing the network.

### [How Does the Network's Difficulty Target Relate to the Energy Expenditure in PoW?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/how-does-the-networks-difficulty-target-relate-to-the-energy-expenditure-in-pow/?utm_source=crypto.greeks.live&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=satellite)
![How Does the Network's Difficulty Target Relate to the Energy Expenditure in PoW?](https://learn.greeks.live/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Advanced-Cryptographic-Hardware-Wallet-Deployment-Mechanism-Featuring-Retractable-Stabilizer-Fins-and-Internal-State-Machine-Components.webp)

A lower difficulty target requires a hash with more leading zeros, forcing miners to expend more energy on hashing attempts to find a valid block.

### [How Does the "Difficulty Adjustment" in Bitcoin Mining Relate to the 256-Bit Hash Target?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/how-does-the-difficulty-adjustment-in-bitcoin-mining-relate-to-the-256-bit-hash-target/?utm_source=crypto.greeks.live&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=satellite)
![How Does the "Difficulty Adjustment" in Bitcoin Mining Relate to the 256-Bit Hash Target?](https://learn.greeks.live/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Decentralized-Mechanism-Illustrating-Atomic-Swap-Protocols-Utilizing-Cross-Chain-Liquidity-Pool-Arbitrage.webp)

It modifies the 256-bit target hash value that a miner's output must be numerically less than.

### [What Is the Role of Mining Difficulty in a PoW Network?](https://learn.greeks.live/path/what-is-the-role-of-mining-difficulty-in-a-pow-network/?utm_source=crypto.greeks.live&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=satellite)
![What Is the Role of Mining Difficulty in a PoW Network?](https://learn.greeks.live/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Close-Up-of-Digital-Asset-Interface-Reflecting-Limit-Order-Book-Dynamics-and-Option-Greeks-Visualizations.webp)

Mining difficulty adjusts to maintain a constant block production time despite changes in the network's total hashing power.

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**Original URL:** https://learn.greeks.live/learn/how-does-a-decrease-in-network-hash-rate-affect-the-difficulty/
