What is Hashrate?
Hashrate describes the total computational power that is utilized to mine and process transactions on a Proof-of-Work blockchain that includes Bitcoin and Ethereum (prior to the 2.0 upgrade). A “hash” is an alphanumeric code of fixed length that represents data, words, and messages of any type. Different crypto projects use various hashing algorithms to generate differing types of hash code. This is similar to random word generators where each hashing algorithm is a unique system for generating random words.
Bitcoin Hashrate and Mining
In the Bitcoin blockchain, prior to the addition of new transaction data into the next block in the chain, miners must compete in guessing a desired number by using their machines. More specifically, miners try to develop a hash that is lower than or equal to the numeric value of the ‘target’ hash by adjusting a value referred to as a ‘nonce’. Each change in the nonce results in a new hash being produced. This operation is akin to a lottery ticket system, where each novel hash is a unique ticket flaunting its set of numbers.
Because each hash output is unpredictable and random, miners might need to produce millions of guesses or hashes before meeting the target and gaining the privilege to fill the next block and append it to the blockchain. Upon succeeding, the miner gets a block reward which comprises of fresh minted coins along with any conceivable fee payments linked to the transactions they store in the new block. Transactions within a block get confirmed when the block gets appended to the blockchain.
An exciting feature of Proof-of-Work blockchains is that the block reward which is an allocated amount of free coins bestowed to a miner every time a new block is mined, undergoes a programmed halving feature to progressively reduce the coin’s total supply over the span of its mining lifespan.
The Importance of Hashrate
The hashrate is a useful metric for assessing the strength, particularly its security, of a blockchain network. When honest miners allocate more machines for discovering the next block, the hashrate rises, and so does the difficulty for malicious agents to disrupt the network. For crypto traders, a coin’s hashrate is a crucial factor in determining how fortified a crypto’s proof of work network could be against cyber attackers. Higher a hashrate, tougher and more expensive it gets for someone to launch an attack on the network.
Monitoring hashrates becomes crucial in this context. Several websites keep track of hashrate for cryptos, such as BitInfoCharts. Steadily or abruptly decreasing hashrates might lead to crypto trading platforms limiting trading or delisting a coin to shield their customer.
Therefore, a high hashrate is a positive sign as it indicates that more computational resources are being used to process transactions, which inherently makes it more challenging for attacks to be successfully perpetrated against the network.
Hashrate and its associated concept of mining difficulty forms the backbone of the security, health, and the functioning of the Proof-of-Work cryptocurrencies. Like any other tech jargon, once you become familiar with what it represents and its relevance, it turns into an extremely useful tool for understanding and participating in the cryptocurrency space.
Please feel free to share your insights and thoughts about hashrate and its importance in cryptocurrency mining in the comment section below.
