As the eagerly anticipated Bitcoin halving event in April approaches, a recent report by CoinShares is heightening concerns about its potential impact on mining costs. The report suggests that the average cost of mining a single Bitcoin could astonishingly rise to $37,856, posing a serious challenge for miners if the price of Bitcoin falls below the $40,000 threshold.
Bitcoin Mining Landscape: Growth Amid Profitability Concerns
Despite a significant 104% increase in hash power in 2023, the Bitcoin mining network is currently facing an imminent profitability crisis. CoinShares’ analysis predicts that the cost of producing one Bitcoin will rise to $37,856 after the upcoming halving event. This projection highlights the increasing financial pressure on miners, especially those with high operational expenses.
James Butterfill, the author of the report, stated, “In this research paper, we estimated that for the third quarter of 2023, the production cost per Bitcoin would be approximately $16,800 and $25,000, with the weighted average cash cost being around $27,900 and $37,800. After the halving event expected in April 2024, these costs are likely to rise to $27,900 and $37,800 respectively.”
Identifying Resilient Miners: Riot Blockchain, TeraWulf, and Cleanspark
Amidst these concerns, the report identifies some miners as being better positioned to weather the storm. Riot Blockchain stands out due to its efficient cost structure and long-term strategy. Other miners like TeraWulf and Cleanspark are also expected to perform well by focusing on operational efficiency and lower overhead costs.
However, the broader mining community may need to make significant adjustments in Selling, General, and Administrative Expenses (SG&A) to maintain profitability post-halving. Failure to do so could lead to operational losses, forcing miners to sell their Bitcoin holdings or seek additional capital.
Surviving Amidst Challenges: Efficiency Improvements in the Mining Network
While acknowledging the upcoming challenges, the report also points to ongoing efficiency improvements within the mining network. The current average efficiency of the network is at 34W/T, showing a positive trend. Analysts believe that a concerted effort could potentially reduce the mining ecosystem’s efficiency to as low as 10W/T by mid-2026.
Despite the looming challenges, historical trends indicate that Bitcoin’s halving event is generally perceived as a bullish signal. Crypto analysts predict that Bitcoin could reach $55,000 and potentially hit an all-time high following the halving.
