German telecommunications company Deutsche Telekom is testing Bitcoin mining infrastructure using surplus energy.

Bitcoin’s mining difficulty increased by 3.9%, reaching a new all-time high. According to Mempool data, the seven-day moving average of the network hashrate also reached a record level.

Shares of top mining companies such as Marathon Digital (MARA) and Riot Platforms (RIOT) have plunged more than 35% since the beginning of the year in anticipation of the upcoming Bitcoin halving. Analysts from these firms, however, consider the fears over reduced block rewards to be unfounded and maintain a positive outlook on the miners' activities.

JCapital Research analysts have issued a warning about the potential for a significant drop in Hut 8 Mining Corp (HUT) shares, citing possible involvement in fraudulent schemes like Pump & Dump. This alert is primarily based on the company's recent acquisition of US Bitcoin (USBTC) and the ensuing merger.