Solo Bitcoin Mining Wins Continue Despite Rising Difficulty
Recent mempool statistics confirmed that a newly mined Bitcoin block achieved a near-perfect health score of 99.96%, reflecting efficient transaction inclusion and network performance. The block generated total transaction fees of 0.027 BTC, equivalent to approximately $2,363, with on-chain data showing a median transaction cost of around 2 sat/vB and a fee range between 1 and 313 sat/vB.
According to mempool data, the block contained 2,806 transactions, representing a decline of 16.56% compared to recent averages. The block weight stood at 3.5 million weight units (MWU), while total fees were slightly lower than previous blocks. Technical details show the block was mined at a network difficulty exceeding 148 trillion, underscoring the computational challenge faced by miners.
Solo Miners Continue to Beat Statistical Probabilities
Despite rising network difficulty, solo Bitcoin miners continue to secure full block rewards against steep mathematical odds. On December 12, a solo miner operating under the alias 1Ng9~VoQz successfully mined block #927,474, earning the full 3.13 BTC block reward, valued at roughly $288,000 at the time.
The miner operated with a hashrate of just 270 TH/s, representing approximately 0.00002% of the total Bitcoin network’s computing power. Based on current conditions, such a setup carries roughly a 1 in 30,000 daily chance of mining a block. CKPool developer commented that this marked the 310th recorded instance of a solo miner earning a block reward under tracked conditions.
Unlike traditional mining pools, the miner did not share rewards with other participants, retaining the full payout minus a 2% CKPool fee.
Mining Profitability Faces Ongoing Pressure
While isolated wins capture attention, broader industry data points to declining profitability. Research from JPMorgan showed Bitcoin mining profitability fell for the fourth consecutive month in November, with analysts noting a 26% month-over-month drop in daily block reward gross profit.
Meanwhile, data from Glassnode indicates the global Bitcoin hash rate (30-day moving average) is approaching 1.1 zettahashes per second, nearing record highs. The growing computational competition continues to reshape mining economics, even as occasional solo successes highlight the unpredictable nature of the network.
