Difficulty

[KommandoComputers]

If the worldwide hashrate remained a constant would the difficulty increase due to the nature of the expanding block chain history?

[decrypter]

I don't think it would.

[yogi]

No, difficulty is used to control the block production rate.

[bitcoinguru42]

That "If" is almost impossible, the hash rate could not stay constant unless literally every individual has 24/7 uptime and no-one comes or leaves which is like finding a four leaf clover under a double rainbow

[DannyHamilton]

If the worldwide hashrate remained a constant would the difficulty increase. . .

The bitcoin minung difficulty is entirely based on the amount if time it takes to solve 2016 blocks. If it takes less than 20,160 minutes then difficulty us increased. If it takes more than 20,160 minutes,  then difficulty is decreased. 

[corky876]

Ah ok so this is how the difficulty is determined.  Didn't really think about it being possible for difficulty to decrease, but I guess theoretically it could.  I don't really understand why you say 20160 minutes though.  Is the minutes you are reffering to not a unit of time, but a different computing minute?

[bitcoinguru42]

Ah ok so this is how the difficulty is determined.  Didn't really think about it being possible for difficulty to decrease, but I guess theoretically it could.  I don't really understand why you say 20160 minutes though.  Is the minutes you are reffering to not a unit of time, but a different computing minute?

difficulty has in fact decreased in the past fyi

[DannyHamilton]

Didn't really think about it being possible for difficulty to decrease, but I guess theoretically it could.

It not only "could", it has.

I don't really understand why you say 20160 minutes though.

Difficulty is adjusted every 2016 blocks. Difficulty is adjusted to bring block creation closer in line with an average of 1 block every 10 minutes. If blocks are being solved faster than that, difficulty is increased proportionally to slow down block solving. If blocks are solved slower than that,  difficulty is decreased proportionally to speed up block creation.

2016 blocks at 10 minutes per block = 20,160 minutes.

Is the minutes you are reffering to not a unit of time, but a different computing minute?

A unit of time, as in 1/60 of an hour, or 1/1440 of a day, or 60 seconds.

[infinitybo]

@KommandoComputers Sure because the difficulty increase every 10 minutes due to the nature of the expanding block chain history.

[hunnaryb]

@KommandoComputers Sure because the difficulty increase every 10 minutes due to the nature of the expanding block chain history.

Nope, if worldwide hashrate remained a constant, difficulty stay about the same

[fjone]

Hi!

Is there a good website for predicting future difficulty levels?

[DannyHamilton]

@KommandoComputers Sure because the difficulty increase every 10 minutes due to the nature of the expanding block chain history.

You are wrong.

Please avoid giving advice in the future until you've taken some time to actually understand how bitcoin works.  Otherwise you are simply increasing the amount of confusion and misunderstanding that exists in the world.