From Hashrate to Earnings: Why is Gate BTC Mining Becoming the Choice for More BTC Holders?

In the crypto world of 2026, the traditional “HODL” strategy of simply holding Bitcoin is facing unprecedented challenges. Although Bitcoin once reached a historic high of $126,080, it now finds support around $65,000, causing many believers to reflect.

Meanwhile, the door to physical mining is gradually closing for ordinary people: the total cost to produce a single BTC has risen to approximately $87,000, creating a serious gap with the spot price. In this “underwater” cycle, a solution between “holding” and “mining”—Gate BTC Mining—is gaining market attention.

Macro upheaval: Why is “hashpower” more valuable in 2026?

To understand the logic behind Gate BTC Mining, we first need to look at the special date of February 2026.

Traditional halving narratives usually follow the simple logic of “supply reduction—price surge.” However, this cycle appears unusually complex. According to Gate Research Institute data, although the block reward has halved to 3.125 BTC, the total network hash rate remains stable above 1.1 ZH/s. High hash rate means high difficulty. On February 20, Bitcoin’s network just underwent a difficulty adjustment of 14.73%, one of the largest since 2021.

This macro context directly leads to two outcomes:

1. Miner surrender: Old mining rigs are forced offline, causing significant fluctuations in total network hash rate.
2. Entry barriers soar: For individuals, purchasing a mainstream Antminer S21e costs about $19,450, involving complex maintenance and exorbitant electricity costs.

Gate’s role: In this environment of “professional miners losing money and individual miners being pushed out,” Gate, with its hardware-free, highly liquid BTC mining service, has become a “safe haven” for ordinary investors to share in the Bitcoin network’s dividends during this period.

Logical breakdown: How does Gate BTC Mining operate?

Gate BTC Mining is not mysticism but a rigorous financial logic based on physical hash power. It perfectly solves the high participation threshold of traditional PoW.

From “buying mining rigs” to “pledging certificates”

Traditional mining requires purchasing bulky ASIC miners and enduring noise and sky-high electricity costs. With Gate, the process is simplified to “staking equals mining.” When you stake BTC on the Gate platform, it issues an equivalent GTBTC token as a certificate at a 1:1 ratio. Holding GTBTC means you are participating in a PoS-like mining or hash power dividend of a specific network.

Revenue source: on-chain returns from real hash power

Many users ask: where do the returns come from? According to official Gate data, these earnings are not platform subsidies but net hash power output after deducting electricity, pool fees, and operational costs.

• Minimum investment: as low as 0.001 BTC (about a few dozen dollars), truly enabling “everyone to mine.”
• Earnings distribution: daily payout mode. Assets are recorded on the day of staking, and from the next day (D+1), earnings are calculated and paid daily. This allows you to see your BTC gradually but steadily grow.

Earnings perspective: from 9.99% to 5.49%—the market language behind the numbers

The core of evaluating any mining product lies in its actual output data. According to Gate BTC mining page, the current total BTC mined is 2,657 coins, with a reference annualized yield of 5.49%.

Compared to a month ago (early February), this figure has fluctuated significantly. At that time, the reference annualized yield was as high as around 9.99%. Why was it lowered?

This is a sign of market rationality returning:

• Hash rate rebalancing: As some high-cost miners exit the competition, the network difficulty fluctuates sharply and then reaches a new equilibrium. When the total network output per unit hash rate decreases, the nominal annualized yield of the product naturally drops.
• The tug-of-war between Bitcoin price and costs: Currently, BTC hovers around $67,000, while production costs reach $87,000. This inversion forces service providers to focus more on “refined operations” when allocating hash power, prioritizing the security of the underlying assets over chasing short-term super-high yields.

Why is this a “hedging” tool for long-term holders?

Despite the yield reduction, the total pledged BTC on the Gate platform remains stable above 2,600 coins. This reflects a shift in long-term investors’ mindset: in bear or volatile markets, “coin-based” thinking outweighs “fiat-based” thinking.

Although 5.49% fiat returns seem to shrink when prices fall, your Bitcoin holdings are actually increasing. For investors confident in Bitcoin’s long-term value, accumulating more coins at lows is the right way to navigate cycles.

Risks and safeguards: Building rational return expectations

Any activity involving crypto assets carries risks. While Gate BTC Mining avoids physical mining noise and depreciation, two points still require attention:

1. Market risk: Returns are paid in GTBTC, whose USD value fluctuates with BTC price. A sharp drop in coin price can reduce the fiat value of earnings.
2. Difficulty risk: As the next halving approaches, future annualized yields may continue to decline gradually. Users should see this as a “hedging” tool rather than a “get-rich-quick” scheme.

To mitigate these risks, Gate has established multiple protective measures. Over 95% of assets are stored in cold storage, and an insurance fund exceeding $100 million has been set up. Additionally, Gate undergoes regular third-party security audits from firms like CertiK to ensure every BTC involved in mining is backed by real hash power.

Action guide: Three steps to start your BTC mining journey

Participating in BTC mining on Gate is simple and only takes a few clicks:

1. Log in to your Gate account: Access via web or app, complete KYC verification.
2. Enter the mining interface: Find “On-Chain Earning” under “Zhima Finance” or “Wealth Management,” and search for BTC mining products.
3. Enter pledge amount: Confirm participation, and from D+1, receive daily earnings automatically.

Withdrawing is equally straightforward: click to redeem, and GTBTC will be exchanged 1:1 for BTC, with funds arriving immediately.

Conclusion: Make every BTC work for you

The 2026 halving cycle marks the end of the “barbaric holding” phase. When simply holding can’t beat time, and physical mining is closed to ordinary people, Gate BTC Mining offers a balanced and efficient solution.

As prices slowly climb, let every BTC “work” for you instead of lying dormant, waiting to be diluted—this is the most pragmatic long-term approach for 2026.