币界网报道：Bitcoin mining difficulty has surged by 3.9%, reaching a new all-time high of 88.1 trillion hashes, according to recent blockchain data. This marks the seventh consecutive increase in mining difficulty this year, reflecting sustained competition among miners despite Bitcoin's price volatility. The adjustment follows a 1.5% rise two weeks prior, indicating accelerated network growth. Analysts attribute the trend to miners deploying more efficient hardware ahead of April's halving event, which will reduce block rewards by 50%. Major mining firms like Marathon Digital and Riot Platforms have been expanding operations, with Marathon adding 30% more hash rate capacity in Q1 2024. The rising difficulty suggests miners remain bullish on long-term Bitcoin value, though some smaller operators may face profitability challenges as margins tighten. Network hash rate currently hovers near 700 exahashes per second (EH/s), nearly doubling since early 2023.