PANews, March 14: According to CoinDesk, a study by the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF) reveals that the Bitcoin network exhibits far greater resilience to physical infrastructure disruptions than previously anticipated. Analyzing 11 years of network data alongside 68 verified undersea cable failures, the study found that, in the case of random failures, a simultaneous disruption of 72% to 92% of transnational undersea cables would be required to significantly impact Bitcoin node connectivity. The study notes that in over 87% of the 68 real-world undersea cable incidents analyzed, fewer than 5% of nodes were affected. For example, in March 2024, an undersea disturbance off the coast of Côte d'Ivoire damaged seven to eight cables simultaneously, impacting approximately 43% of regional nodes—but globally, only five to seven Bitcoin nodes were affected, representing roughly 0.03% of the network. However, Bitcoin’s vulnerability to targeted attacks is significantly higher than to random failures. If attackers deliberately target critical communication hubs, disrupting only about 20% of key cable links could produce a comparable impact; coordinated disruptions targeting the largest hosting providers with the highest concentration of nodes—such as Hetzner, OVH, Comcast, Amazon, and Google Cloud—could cause significant disruption with just a 5% reduction in routing capacity. Additionally, the study found that Tor network nodes now account for approximately 64% of the Bitcoin network (as of 2025), primarily concentrated in countries with strong connectivity such as Germany, France, and the Netherlands—thereby enhancing overall network resilience. The researchers conclude that the Bitcoin community is increasingly adopting more censorship-resistant infrastructure in response to internet censorship and geopolitical events, resulting in a pattern of “adaptive reinforcement” within the network.
Cambridge Study: 72–92% of Undersea Cables Must Be Cut to Significantly Impact Bitcoin Network
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Summary
Bitcoin news from the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF) reveals that the Bitcoin network is more resilient to physical outages than previously assumed. Analyzing 11 years of data and 68 undersea cable failures, the study found that a 72–92% reduction in cables would be required to disrupt node connectivity. Most incidents affected fewer than 5% of nodes. A 2024 event in Côte d'Ivoire damaged 7–8 cables, impacting 43% of local nodes but only 0.03% globally. Targeted attacks on key hubs could cause comparable disruption with just 20% of lines severed. Bitcoin’s use of Tor nodes—64% of the network as of 2025—has enhanced resilience, particularly in Germany, France, and the Netherlands. The findings underscore Bitcoin’s robust network upgrade capabilities.
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