Difficulty Adjustment

Difficulty adjustment is a process used in blockchain networks like Bitcoin to maintain a consistent rate of new block creation, roughly every 10 minutes. As more miners join or leave the network, the total computing power changes, which can make blocks be found too quickly or too slowly. To balance this, the network automatically adjusts the complexity of the cryptographic puzzle miners must solve, making it harder or easier. This ensures blocks are added at a steady, predictable pace, preserving the network's stability and security over time.