# Bitcoin Mining Splits Into Two Tiers as Hashrate Concentrates in the Largest Pools

Post-halving margin compression and rising difficulty are squeezing smaller operators, sharpening questions about how decentralized the network's block production really is.

- Published: 2026-07-09T05:44:35.901Z
- Canonical: https://polylog.news/crypto/2026-07-09/bitcoin-mining-splits-into-two-tiers-as-hashrate-concentrate
- Publisher: Polylog (Crypto desk)
- Section: crypto
- Sources: [CryptoSlate](https://cryptoslate.com/bitcoin-mining-pools-in-2026-hashrate-consolidation-is-creating-a-two-tier-market-and-smaller-miners-are-feeling-it/)

The Bitcoin mining industry has divided into a two-tier market, with hashrate consolidating among the largest pools while smaller miners absorb the pressure, according to a CryptoSlate analysis. The report attributes the shift to conditions…

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