Bitcoin network fundamentals, including difficulty and hash rate, are set to hit new records despite the cryptocurrency struggling to surpass $30,000. The mining difficulty, which reflects competition for block subsidies, will reach 48.91 trillion, an increase of approximately 2.1% on April 20, according to data from BTC.com. The hash rate is also expected to reach an all-time high of 418 exahashes per second on April 18. Some commentators continue to watch the metric keenly as it drifts ever higher, with Russia reportedly stepping up mining activity to become the world's second-largest miner in 2023. Meanwhile, data from Glassnode shows that on a rolling 30-day basis, BTC sales by miners are increasing.

(By WILLIAM SUBERG)