What Is the Relationship between Hashrate Volatility and Network Security?

High hashrate volatility can temporarily compromise network security, especially for smaller coins. If hashrate suddenly drops, the network is vulnerable to a 51 percent attack until the next difficulty adjustment lowers the required hashrate for an attack.

Even for large coins, rapid fluctuations can lead to unpredictable block times. Stable, consistent hashrate is a sign of a healthy, secure network, as it implies a large, committed base of legitimate miners and reduces the window of vulnerability.