Bitcoin Hashrate to Drop by 20% After Next Halving Event: JPMorgan

Source: agnormark/AdobeJPMorgan has predicted a potential 20% drop in the Bitcoin (BTC) Network Hashrate following the next halving event scheduled for April 2024.

"We estimate as much as 80 EH/s (or 20% of the network hashrate) could be removed at the next halving (April '24) as less-efficient hardware is decommissioned," the report said

The Bitcoin halving occurs every four years and involves a halving of rewards for Bitcoin miners

The report also mentioned that the four-year block reward opportunity amounts to approximately $20 billion, based on Bitcoin's current price.

However, it noted that there has been a significant decrease of around 72% compared to just over two years ago, stating:

"For context, this figure peaked at roughly $73 billion in April '21 and has fluctuated between $14 billion and $25 billion over the past year."

JPMorgan Names Out Top Bitcoin Miners

The report by JPMorgan also recommended mining operators that offer the best relative value based on factors such as existing hashrate, operational efficiency, power contracts, funded growth plans, and liquidity

It added that the investment bank would start coverage with the following ratings and price targets: CleanSpark (CLSK) overweight with a $5.50 target, Marathon Digital (MARA) underweight with a $5 target, Riot Platforms (RIOT) underweight with a $6.50 target, and Cipher Mining (CIFR) neutral

Additionally, Iris Energy (IREN) has been upgraded from neutral to overweight.

JPMorgan's top pick is CleanSpark, which offers the best balance of scale, growth potential, power costs, and relative value

The report also highlighted that while Marathon is the largest mining operator, it has the highest energy costs and lowest margins

Riot, on the other hand, has relatively low power costs and liquidity but is the most expensive stock in JPMorgan's coverage universe

Cipher Mining boasts the lowest power costs among peers but is considered growth-constrained.

Miners Turn to Hedging Options Amid Price Volatility

As reported, Bitcoin miners are considering hedging options to protect their revenue stability amidst the volatility of the cryptocurrency market

GSR, a leading firm in the trading and market-making space, is pitching hedging products that would provide miners with a more predictable income.

By offering these tools, GSR aims to make the $500 billion Bitcoin network more resilient, ensuring that large operators are not at risk of going under during market downturns.

It is worth noting that miners often hold onto the Bitcoin they mine rather than selling it immediately

This acts as a form of natural hedge, as miners bet on the price increasing over time

However, by not selling their mined Bitcoins, miners risk forgoing immediate profits