Bitcoin's hashrate hit a record high on January 3, surpassing 1,000 exahashes per second, nearly doubling from last year. This surge indicates that miners are boosting computational power, enhancing network security despite reduced rewards from April's halving.

Mining companies like Riot Platforms and CleanSpark are expanding operations, acquiring facilities to increase hashrate. JPMorgan noted miners are also focusing on accumulating Bitcoin, raising stock price targets for mining firms due to their power assets and BTC holdings.

Institutional interest is rising, with Bitcoin ETFs surpassing $100 billion in assets. Sygnum predicts increased institutional participation by 2025, driven by regulatory clarity and potential recognition of Bitcoin as a central bank reserve asset.