Bitcoin mining difficulty has remained below its all-time high of 155.97T for 374 consecutive days, marking the longest such period in the network's history. The record surpasses previous streaks of 364 days following the 2011 crash and 253 days after China's 2021 mining ban. Economist Saifedean Ammous noted that neither the 95% price drawdown in 2011 nor the regulatory crackdown in China lasted as long as this current episode. Difficulty dropped to a low of 124.93T in mid-June 2026, approximately 20% below the October 2025 peak. Although it rebounded to 148.36T in October, Mempool.space projects another decline of roughly 3.7% around November 13, potentially delaying a new high. The sustained lower difficulty reflects pressure from weak Bitcoin prices and listed mining companies selling BTC while pivoting toward AI operations. Additionally, proposed data center restrictions by Democrats following midterm elections could further impact mining operations.