Iran’s Bitcoin mining hashrate drops 77%, and geopolitical conflicts disrupt the mining industry

Gate News message: Iran’s Bitcoin mining industry has been hit hard. The latest data shows that the country’s hashrate dropped by 77% within a single quarter, with losses of about 7 EH/s. At present, its total hashrate has fallen to 2 EH/s. Although the global Bitcoin network remains stable and total hashrate is close to 1000 EH/s, this shift has a massive impact on local miners in Iran.

The hashrate decline is mainly driven by geopolitical conflicts. Tensions among Iran, the United States, and Israel have disrupted power supply and mining operations. Bitcoin mining relies heavily on stable electricity; even a minor interruption can take mining rigs offline. Previously, Iran was an important mining hub, with hashrate nearing 9 EH/s. However, with energy prioritized for civilian life and infrastructure, mining activity slowed rapidly.

The impact is still limited to Iran itself. Mining activities in neighboring countries such as the United Arab Emirates and Oman remain normal. Global hashrate only fell slightly, from about 1,066 EH/s in the first quarter to about 1,004 EH/s in the second quarter. This indicates that the Bitcoin network’s decentralized nature is strengthening: even if a single country’s hashrate drops sharply, it still cannot shake the stability of the entire network.

Currently, Bitcoin mining is concentrated in a small number of countries. The United States accounts for about 37% of the global hashrate, Russia about 17%, and China about 12%. Together, the three countries control roughly 65% of the hashrate. At the same time, countries such as Paraguay and Kyrgyzstan—where energy costs are low and infrastructure is well developed—are attracting more miners, and the level of decentralization is expected to gradually increase.

Analysts note that Iran’s catastrophic hashrate drop highlights how sensitive the mining industry is to war, policy, and changes in energy supply, but it also shows that the Bitcoin network has strong resilience. As miners move to more stable regions, countries with low-energy costs and clearer policies may benefit. Overall, even if one country’s hashrate declines by 77%, the global Bitcoin network can still keep running—demonstrating its mature and robust development trajectory.