Bitcoin News Today: Bitcoin Miners Outpace Rising Difficulty With Record Output and Hash Rate Gains

Riot Platforms and CleanSpark reported increased Bitcoin production in August 2025, despite a notable rise in mining difficulty over the past year. Riot mined 477 BTC in August, a 48% increase from 322 BTC in the same period in 2024, and sold 450 BTC for net proceeds of $51.8 million during the month [2]. CleanSpark also saw a 37.5% year-over-year increase in output, mining 657 BTC in August, up from 478 BTC in August 2024, and selling 533.5 BTC for $60.7 million [2]. Both companies experienced a surge in their average operational hash rates, with Riot’s increasing by 116.6% to 31.4 EH/s and CleanSpark’s rising by 103.3% to 43.3 EH/s over the past 12 months [2].

The increase in production occurred against a backdrop of rising Bitcoin mining difficulty, which has increased by 44.9% year-over-year, reaching 129.7 trillion as of August 2025 [2]. Mining difficulty reflects the computational challenge faced by miners when validating transactions and adding blocks to the Bitcoin blockchain. As the difficulty rises, miners often need to upgrade equipment or expand operations to remain competitive. Despite this, both Riot and CleanSpark managed to significantly boost their hash rates and production output.

Riot’s hashrate expanded from 14.5 EH/s in August 2024 to 31.4 EH/s in August 2025, demonstrating the company’s capacity to adapt to the increasing difficulty and maintain profitability [2]. CleanSpark similarly saw a significant increase in operational efficiency, with its hash rate more than doubling over the same period [2]. The companies also demonstrated cost control, with Riot maintaining an all-in power cost of 2.6 cents per kWh, a 7% decrease from July 2025 [4]. This efficiency was supported by power management strategies, including demand response credits and power credits, which contributed $16.1 million and $0.9 million respectively in August [4].

The performance of both companies was further supported by strategic initiatives to expand their operations and diversify revenue streams. For instance, Riot appointed an adviser with experience in transitioning Bitcoin mining assets to high-performance computing (HPC) and artificial intelligence (AI) workloads [2]. Other miners, such as Hut 8, are also exploring opportunities in HPC to offset the growing challenges in Bitcoin mining [2]. These developments indicate a broader trend among mining firms to explore alternative uses for their infrastructure and adapt to the evolving market dynamics.

The Bitcoin network itself experienced a surge in hash rate, with the 7-day average reaching a record high in August 2025. The hash rate, a measure of the total computing power dedicated to the Bitcoin network, increased to 1,239.46 EH/s, reflecting the growing interest and investment in Bitcoin mining [4]. This rise in hash rate, despite the bearish price trend of Bitcoin, suggests that miners are optimistic about future price recovery and are willing to expand their operations in anticipation of higher returns [4].

The broader market context also influenced the performance of companies like Riot Platforms. The White House’s recent policy changes, which expanded access to cryptocurrencies in 401(k) plans, introduced both risks and opportunities for institutional investors [1]. While some analysts caution that such changes could increase portfolio volatility, others see it as a step toward mainstream adoption of cryptocurrencies and a potential boost for companies like Riot [1]. Market analysts have also highlighted the company’s strategic moves and favorable regulatory environment as factors that could attract more institutional investments and support long-term growth [1].

Source:

[1] Riot Platforms' Promising Surge: Should You Invest? (https://stockstotrade.com/news/riot-platforms-inc-riot-news-2025_09_03/)

[2] Riot, CleanSpark Post Bitcoin Output Jump in August (https://cointelegraph.com/news/riot-cleanspark-bitcoin-output-jump-in-august)

[3] Riot mines 477 Bitcoin in August, down 2% from previous month (https://blockspace.media/insight/riot-mines-477-bitcoin-in-august-down-2-from-previous-month/)

[4] Bitcoin Network Bigger Than Ever: Hashrate Sets New (https://www.mitrade.com/insights/news/live-news/article-3-1086670-20250902)