Why China’s Recent Mining Crackdown Triggered Bitcoin’s Latest Sell-Off
As Bitcoin’s price continues to trend lower, China’s renewed crackdown on domestic mining activity may help explain the sudden downturn.
In Xinjiang province, an estimated 400,000 miners were forced to shut down operations and go offline. The abrupt disruption cut off revenue streams, pushing some operators to sell Bitcoin holdings to cover operating costs or finance relocation efforts.
Mining Disruptions Add Pressure to Bitcoin’s Decline
In a recent social media post, former Canaan chairman Jack Kong said that China’s computing power fell by roughly 100 exahashes per second (EH/s) within 24 hours. He noted that the decline, estimated at around 8%, followed the shutdown of hundreds of thousands of mining machines.
The news emerged shortly before Bitcoin slid to $86,000 on Tuesday, breaking below the $90,000 level it had managed to hold over the past week.
Some analysts view the timing as more than coincidental, pointing to a correlation between the mining shutdowns and the price decline.
They note that abrupt and stringent measures often force miners to take immediate actions, which can amplify short-term market pressure.
Miner Shutdowns Trigger Liquidity Stress And Selling
According to Bitcoin analyst NoLimit, when miners are forced offline, a chain reaction typically follows.
This includes an immediate loss of revenue, an urgent need for liquidity to cover operating expenses or relocation costs, and, in some cases, the forced sale of Bitcoin holdings.
These dynamics can spill directly into the broader crypto market. When roughly 8% of Bitcoin’s computing power is suddenly taken offline, uncertainty rises, adding short-term stress to Bitcoin’s price.
“That creates real sell pressure, not the other way around,” NoLimit explained.
Timing magnified the impact. China’s mining sector had only recently re-established itself as a major contributor to global hashrate.
A Mining Comeback Meets Abrupt Regulatory Pressure
Less than a month ago, China regained its position as the world’s third-largest Bitcoin mining hub. According to the Hashrate Index, the country accounted for roughly 14% of global hashrate by October.
Despite the formal mining ban imposed in 2021, underground activity has continued to expand across the country.
Analysts point to access to low-cost power and surplus electricity in certain regions as key drivers behind the resurgence.
Against this backdrop, this week’s crackdown caught miners off guard. With regulations suddenly tightened and Bitcoin’s hashrate falling, miner revenues quickly became a central concern.
These pressures were compounded by Bitcoin’s roughly 30% decline from its October peak and persistently low transaction fees, pushing miner revenues to recent lows.
Given that mining underpins the security and operation of the Bitcoin network, the recent price pullback appears consistent with the broader disruption, though its full impact may unfold over time.
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