<p>Solutions to the proof of work are found randomly (by guessing until you find a valid block hash). So, the difficulty is adjusted in order to set an <strong><em>average</em></strong> block time of 10 minutes, but that is not always how it happens in practice.</p>

<p>Also, when the total network hashpower grows before the difficulty is recalculated (which happens every 2 weeks on Bitcoin), blocks can (and are) solved at a faster rate than every 10 minutes. The same applies in reverse, less hashpower will cause block times to increase above 10 minutes (until the next difficulty retargeting).</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-16T21:00:11.007Z
I think the Bitcoin Cash DAR adjusts faster than 2-weeks (more of a rolling avg of the last 12 hours).
circusdei
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-16T20:47:41.027Z
2018-11-16T22:02:16.343Z
2018-11-16T22:02:16.343Z
JBaczuk
<p>After the Bitcoin Cash &amp; Bitcoin SV fork, Bitcoin Cash is happy to be "ahead" of Bitcoin SV, but how is this possible? aren't blocks supposed to be mined constantly every 10 min?</p>

<mining-theory><blockchain-fork>
How can Bitcoin Cash be blocks ahead of Bitcoin SV
Alejandro Veintimilla
# How can Bitcoin Cash be blocks ahead of Bitcoin SV

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-11-16)

After the Bitcoin Cash & Bitcoin SV fork, Bitcoin Cash is happy to be "ahead" of Bitcoin SV, but how is this possible? aren't blocks supposed to be mined constantly every 10 min?

**Tags:** mining-theory, blockchain-fork


---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-11-16. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

Solutions to the proof of work are found randomly (by guessing until you find a valid block hash). So, the difficulty is adjusted in order to set an ***average*** block time of 10 minutes, but that is not always how it happens in practice.

Also, when the total network hashpower grows before the difficulty is recalculated (which happens every 2 weeks on Bitcoin), blocks can (and are) solved at a faster rate than every 10 minutes. The same applies in reverse, less hashpower will cause block times to increase above 10 minutes (until the next difficulty retargeting).

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: I think the Bitcoin Cash DAR adjusts faster than 2-weeks (more of a rolling avg of the last 12 hours).  

---

