Difficulty

1 min read

Pronunciation

[dif-i-kul-tee]

Analogy

Difficulty is like the size of the puzzle pieces in a jigsaw: smaller pieces (higher difficulty) take longer to assemble, controlling how fast you finish the picture.

Definition

A network‑wide parameter that adjusts how hard it is to find a valid proof‑of‑work , ensuring blocks are produced at a roughly constant rate.

Key Points Intro

Difficulty regulates production via:

Key Points

Target spacing: Aims for a fixed time between blocks.

Retargeting: Adjusts periodically based on recent block times.

Global parameter: Applies equally to all miners.

Inverse relation: Higher difficulty means lower probability per hash.

Example

recalculates difficulty every 2016 blocks (~2 weeks). If blocks came too quickly, difficulty increases; if too slowly, it decreases.

Technical Deep Dive

Difficulty is encoded as a 256‑bit target threshold. must find a ≤ target. The network computes new target = old target × (actual time ÷ desired time). In ’s Ethash, a similar algorithm recalculates difficulty per using a weighted moving average.

Security Warning

Rapid swings in (e.g., due to migrations) can cause large difficulty adjustments, temporarily destabilizing times.

Caveat

Difficulty adjustments lag real‑time changes; extreme volatility can lead to slow or fast intervals until next retarget.

Related Terms

Mining Difficulty

Proof-of-Work

Hash Rate

Blockchain & Cryptocurrency Glossary

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