What Is Hash Rate?
Also known as: Hashrate, Hash Power, Network Hash Rate, Computing Power
In short
Hash rate is the number of hash calculations per second performed by mining hardware or the whole network on a Proof of Work blockchain; it indicates the total computing power devoted to the network and, indirectly, its security level.
While searching for a value that will bring the hash of the block header below a certain target to find a new block, miners make a large number of attempts per second. Hash rate expresses this attempt speed and is measured in H/s (hashes per second). As the scale grows, the units TH/s (terahash), PH/s (petahash), and EH/s (exahash) are used; the total hash rate of the Bitcoin network is expressed at the exahash level. The network's total hash rate cannot be measured directly; it is estimated from the block production rate.
A high hash rate means an attacker who wants to take over the network would have to bear very large hardware and energy costs; for this reason, it is an important indicator of resistance to a 51% attack. When the hash rate rises, blocks start to be found faster than targeted; Bitcoin balances this with a difficulty adjustment made every 2016 blocks and keeps the average block time at about 10 minutes.
The share of a miner or mining pool in the total hash rate determines their probability of finding a block. Changes in hash rate are closely related to hardware efficiency, energy costs, coin price, and revenue changes such as halvings. In networks that use Proof of Stake, the concept of hash rate does not exist.
Last updated: · This content is for information purposes only and is not investment advice.