Have you noticed how the geopolitical situation directly impacts Bitcoin mining? I read that the network's hash rate has dropped quite a bit recently, and apparently it's related to the surge in energy prices in Iran. When electricity costs go up, miners have to reassess their profitability, hence this decline in hash rate.

It's an interesting example of how external events outside the crypto universe directly affect the security and performance of the Bitcoin network. Miners, especially those in regions with cheaper energy, continue to operate, but overall hash power decreases when energy prices soar. It also shows why some countries are trying to attract the mining industry with competitive electricity rates.