Mining Difficulty: A measure that determines how challenging it is to solve the mathematical problem required to mine a new block on a blockchain. As more miners join the network and the computational power increases, the difficulty adjusts to ensure that the average time to find a new block remains constant. This mechanism helps maintain the network’s security and the steady issuance of new coins.

For cryptocurrencies using proof-of-work (PoW), such as Bitcoin, mining difficulty is a critical factor that influences profitability. It ensures that despite fluctuations in mining power, the rate of block creation remains stable, preserving the integrity of the blockchain.

“Just noticed the mining difficulty spiked again. It’s getting tougher to mine a block, but it’s all part of keeping the network secure and decentralized.”