Bitcoin’s network hashrate reached a new milestone on October 25, 2024, hitting an all-time high of 736.81 exahash per second (EH/s). This achievement brings Bitcoin one step closer to the anticipated zettahash era, where computing power will reach a colossal 1,000 EH/s.
In just nine days, the network saw an addition of over 67 EH/s, contributing to the record-breaking hashrate. To put this into perspective, the peak of 736.81 EH/s is equivalent to 0.73681 ZH/s.
Sam Wouters, head of marketing and content at the bitcoin firm River, predicted back in March 2023 that the zettahash milestone could be reached by 2025. At that time, the hashrate was at 400 EH/s, and Wouters stated that with the current growth rate, a zettahash would be achieved by the end of 2025. The hashrate seems to be aligning perfectly with Wouters’ prediction.
Just three months ago, on July 25, 2024, the hashrate was at 677 EH/s, and since then, it has fluctuated significantly. However, when averaged out, the network has expanded by 0.66 EH/s per day over the past 90 days. If this growth rate continues, Bitcoin will reach 1,000 EH/s or 1 ZH/s around November 28, 2025.
A zettahash is an astronomical figure, representing approximately 1 sextillion hashes per second of SHA256 power. To put it into perspective, this is close to the estimated number of stars in the observable universe. In the world of computing, a sextillion bytes is equivalent to one zettabyte (ZB), a unit that becomes increasingly relevant as global data continues to surge. By next year, Bitcoin will also be operating on a scale of these magnitudes.
As Bitcoin approaches the zettahash era, its immense computational growth reflects the expanding global commitment to decentralized technology. Each new peak in hashrate enhances Bitcoin’s security and resilience, propelling the network towards an unprecedented level of processing power. This shift indicates a digital landscape that is evolving to align with these astronomical numbers.
