Bitcoin network activity has shifted, with blocks now carrying roughly twice as many transactions as in early 2025. In January 2025, the daily average was 372,000 transactions, while by October 2026, this figure rose to between 700,000 and 800,000.
This increase is driven by the efficiency of Segregated Witness (SegWit) technology, which allows smaller payments to occupy less space within the 4 million weight unit block limit. Currently, microtransactions under 0.01 BTC account for approximately 80% of all network activity.
Despite the high volume, blocks remain at about 98% capacity, and transaction fees have decreased to approximately 32 cents. The lack of competition for block space suggests that the rise in transaction counts reflects improved data packing rather than a surge in new user demand.
The trend presents potential challenges for network security, as miner fee revenue is declining despite the higher transaction throughput. As the block subsidy continues to shrink, the network relies more heavily on transaction fees to incentivize miners, creating long-term sustainability concerns.
