The Bitcoin network's hash rate has decreased by approximately 15% from its October peak, falling from around 1.1 ZH/s to about 977 EH/s. This decline is attributed to miners shutting down operations due to decreased profitability, with the network's mining difficulty expected to drop for the seventh time in eight adjustments. The average daily block reward income per EH/s for miners fell to $38,700 in December 2025, marking a 32% year-over-year decrease. Amidst these challenges, some mining operations are pivoting towards AI data centers. U.S.-listed cryptocurrency companies are leveraging their existing infrastructure to meet the growing demand for AI computing power. This transition involves models like cloud computing leasing and power leasing, with companies like IREN partnering with tech giants such as Microsoft. Despite the hash rate decline, a VanEck report suggests this could lead to higher Bitcoin returns, as historical data shows a correlation between hash rate drops and positive forward returns.