On October 28–29, the IX Crypto Summit 2026 was held at the MTS Live Hall in Moscow. The major mining pool ViaBTC acted as a strategic partner of the event, presenting the experience it has accumulated over ten years of work in the industry and taking part in discussions of key issues in the industry's development.
For the mining industry, 2026 became a period of serious changes. Fluctuations in the Bitcoin price, the growth of network difficulty, and the redistribution of computing power in favor of artificial intelligence affected the economics of mining. At the same time, in recent months miners' activity has begun to grow again: Bitcoin network difficulty has updated a seven-month high, returning to the levels of March 2026, and the computing power directed toward mining BTC has increased by almost 30% over the past month.
Against the backdrop of these changes, ViaBTC continues to hold stable positions in the global market, providing about 9% of the total hash rate of the Bitcoin network. In 2026, the company marked the tenth anniversary of its founding. During this time, ViaBTC has become one of the world's leading mining pools: it is among the five largest Bitcoin pools and holds leading positions by hash rate in the Zcash (ZEC) networks and in merged mining of Litecoin (LTC) and Dogecoin (DOGE).
As part of the summit, ViaBTC Business Development Director Anton Tsarenok took part in a panel discussion dedicated to the current market situation and the prospects for mining in 2026. Together with representatives of leading mining companies, he discussed the main trends of the industry, current challenges, and possible directions for the further development of mining in Russia.
ViaBTC Business Development Manager Alina Kakicheva gave a presentation titled "What a Miner Needs to Know About Working in a Pool in 2026." In her speech, she spoke about the key criteria for choosing a mining pool, the features of payout models, and the factors that directly affect mining efficiency.
"Efficient mining is a comprehensive process in which every detail matters. Miners need to understand how the chosen payout model works, monitor connection stability, and take into account all operating costs. It is equally important to assess in advance how changes in network difficulty and declining profitability may affect business results. This approach allows for more balanced decisions and more efficient management of one's capacities," noted Alina Kakicheva.
Participation in Crypto Summit 2026 became an opportunity for ViaBTC to share practical expertise, meet with current and potential partners, and discuss the future of the mining industry. The company continues to develop its technological infrastructure and improve its services, relying on ten years of experience and the needs of miners around the world.
Cryptalist Analysis: The return of Bitcoin network difficulty to March highs and the almost 30 percent increase in capacity over the month signal a recovery in miners' confidence after a period of turbulence. ViaBTC's retention of about 9% of the global hash rate while diversifying into ZEC, LTC, and DOGE demonstrates the resilience of the large-pool model to profitability volatility. For institutional participants, the key factor remains the transparency of payout models and operational efficiency amid growing competition for block rewards.