Inside China’s mining ban: What it means for Bitcoin’s 2026 outlook

Heading into 2026, the market seems to be organising a transparent divergence.

On one aspect, the tone remains to be risk-off. Bitcoin [BTC] hasn’t reclaimed ranges for the reason that October crash, dropping the share of supply in profit from 98% earlier than the sell-off to round 63% now. That’s an actual squeeze on margins.

The outcome? BTC’s NUPL is deep into net-loss territory. From a technical standpoint, this seems like a basic capitulation setup. Nevertheless, a key market divergence suggests this part is probably not bearish in any case.

Mining shutdown and LTH gross sales clarify Bitcoin’s weak point

Bitcoin’s provide dynamics are seeing a quiet however important shakeout. 

Notably, many of the stress is coming from China, which has as soon as once more tightened mining restrictions. Particularly, the Xinjiang crackdown has shut down roughly 1.3 GW of mining capability, taking 400,000 rigs offline.

Merely put, BTC miners are in danger as a big chunk of Bitcoin mining in China has been compelled offline. The outcome? Bitcoin’s hashrate has dropped about 8%, making the community briefly much less safe towards assaults.

Supply: Blockchain.com

Because the chart reveals, Bitcoin’s hashrate fell from 1.12 billion TH/s to 1.07 billion TH/s in lower than every week. With China controlling round 14% of whole hashpower, this highlights how regional strikes are including promoting stress.

On-chain data helps this pattern. Asian exchanges have proven constant web spot promoting all through This fall. On the similar time, lengthy‑time period holders (LTHs) are additionally lowering positions, with promoting exercise rising over the previous month or two.

Briefly, Bitcoin is dealing with Asia‑pushed stress. In the meantime, U.S. BTC spot ETFs simply recorded their largest single-day inflow in over a month. This divergence may play a decisive position in shaping Bitcoin’s trajectory as 2026 approaches.

Compelled, not panic promoting, may form BTC’s 2026 transfer

Bitcoin’s outlook for 2026 is being outlined by a refined shift in provide dynamics.

As macro volatility picks up and renewed China mining stress builds, completely different BTC cohorts are being pushed into promoting simply to handle losses. Miners are a transparent a part of this, with miner web place change flipping crimson.

In different phrases, with hashrate down round 8%, miner margins are getting squeezed, making continued promoting extra seemingly. That retains Bitcoin’s short-term momentum capped, limiting its This fall tailwind.

Supply: Glassnode

That mentioned, this seems extra like compelled promoting than panic. 

BTC ETFs simply pulled in $457 million in a single day, displaying establishments are nonetheless shopping for. Massive gamers haven’t tapped out but, which makes the pullback really feel extra like a wholesome reset than a fear-driven capitulation.

Notably, this divergence may outline Bitcoin’s setup heading into 2026.

Remaining Ideas

• Asia-led compelled promoting is weighing on BTC short-term, pushed by China’s mining shutdowns, falling hashrate, and long-term holder distribution.
• Institutional demand stays intact, with robust U.S. spot ETF inflows making a divergence that might form Bitcoin’s setup heading into 2026.