MARA's Bitcoin Mine Slips: Weather, Difficulty Bite Production

MARA, the blue chip of institutional-grade Bitcoin mining, has had a difficult past few months when it comes to its Bitcoin production. LeeChiaJian will help us unpack why this drop has happened. Investors, and anyone following the operational hurdles in new, big Bitcoin mining will benefit from his insights.
Understanding the Production Decrease
Fast forward to June 2025, and MARA was in the midst of a serious Bitcoin production disaster. It fell by 25% from the month prior leading to just 211 blocks mined and 713 BTC earned. A perfect storm of factors are fueling this trend. Weather-related curtailment and the inherent difficulties of Bitcoin mining are the two biggest culprits.
Weather Woes and Operational Adjustments
Climate deeply affected MARA’s production woes. The company’s increased downtime from weather-related curtailment further affected its impact mining operations. Moreover, storm-related damage required MARA to temporarily move older machines back into Garden City while repairs were made. One of MARA’s Texas facilities contended with extreme winter weather earlier this year. This made Bitcoin mining production even more unprofitable.
Mining Difficulty and Network Challenges
Compounding these weather-related challenges, MARA had to deal with the looming threat of Bitcoin mining becoming more difficult. In April, the firm experienced a 15% MoM decrease in blocks won. This decrease was due to an 8% increase in mining difficulty since March. According to national averages provided by cryptocurrency-mining calculator CoinWarz, the national average mining difficulty jumped by nearly 2.6%. It peaked at 126.4 terahashes from April 30 to June 17. Despite these headwinds, MARA's energized hashrate grew 5.5% over the prior month, showcasing the company's resilience amid the challenges.
MARA's Strategies for Mitigation and Growth
Even with these recent hurdles, MARA is hard at work taking many steps to avoid these pitfalls and set itself up for future success.
Diversification and Operational Flexibility
MARA's decision to deploy older machines in Garden City while addressing storm-related damage demonstrates a proactive approach to managing operational disruptions. This diversification of mining operations allows the company to maintain some level of production even when faced with unforeseen circumstances.
Expanding Network Capacity and Low-Cost Power Initiatives
MARA’s current priorities include expanding its network capacity and continuing to have first in line opportunities to secure low-cost power. With a pipeline of more than 3 GW of low-cost power, the company is positioned for growth. This expansion would massively improve its mining output capability and reduce the impacts from weather-related shutdowns. MARA is laying a solid groundwork for ongoing expansion with 1.7 gigawatts (GW) of captive capacity. Of this capacity, only 1.1 GW is currently in operation.
Ambitious Hashrate Targets and Strategic Bitcoin Lending
MARA has a goal of reaching an impressive 75 EH/s by the end of 2025. This target marks more than a 40% increase from 2024, supported by the good faith orders of machines already obtained and promised. This bold target further demonstrates the company’s commitment to increasing its overall mining capacity. It hopes to offset the increase in threat from mining difficulty and storm-based shutdowns. MARA has already started lending out some of its BTC maturities. As of January 2025, that adds up to 7,377 BTC — all of which work to produce additional yield and cover operational expenses. The firm has increased its crypto treasury to close to 50,000 BTC. This transition symbolizes both the power of its operations and its pro-accumulation bitcoin strategy, which further strengthens its already asset-heavy base.
MARA has built its reputation on large-scale, institutional-grade Bitcoin mining operations, leveraging advanced technology and strategic partnerships to maximize efficiency and output. While heavy rains and challenging mining conditions have impacted recent… MARA Continues Aggressive Growth Strategy Despite Production Setbacks They are committed to creating a better tomorrow.
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Lee Chia Jian
Blockchain Analyst
Lim Wei Jian blends collectivist-progressive values and interventionist economics with a Malaysian Chinese perspective, delivering meticulous, balanced blockchain analysis rooted in both careful planning and adaptive thinking. Passionate about crypto education and regional inclusion, he presents investigative, data-driven insights in a diplomatic tone, always seeking collaborative solutions. He’s an avid chess player and enjoys solving mechanical puzzles.