diff --git a/difficulty.go b/difficulty.go
index 0ed4fdda..1f4089a5 100644
--- a/difficulty.go
+++ b/difficulty.go
@@ -189,6 +189,7 @@ func (b *BlockChain) calcEasiestDifficulty(bits uint32, duration time.Duration)
 
 	// Choose the correct proof of work limit for the active network.
 	powLimit := b.chainParams().PowLimit
+	powLimitBits := b.chainParams().PowLimitBits
 
 	// The test network rules allow minimum difficulty blocks after more
 	// than twice the desired amount of time needed to generate a block has
@@ -198,7 +199,7 @@ func (b *BlockChain) calcEasiestDifficulty(bits uint32, duration time.Duration)
 		fallthrough
 	case btcwire.TestNet3:
 		if durationVal > int64(targetSpacing)*2 {
-			return BigToCompact(powLimit)
+			return powLimitBits
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -225,7 +226,7 @@ func (b *BlockChain) calcEasiestDifficulty(bits uint32, duration time.Duration)
 func (b *BlockChain) findPrevTestNetDifficulty(startNode *blockNode) (uint32, error) {
 	// Search backwards through the chain for the last block without
 	// the special rule applied.
-	powLimitBits := BigToCompact(b.chainParams().PowLimit)
+	powLimitBits := b.chainParams().PowLimitBits
 	iterNode := startNode
 	for iterNode != nil && iterNode.height%blocksPerRetarget != 0 && iterNode.bits == powLimitBits {
 		// Get the previous block node.  This function is used over
@@ -255,10 +256,11 @@ func (b *BlockChain) findPrevTestNetDifficulty(startNode *blockNode) (uint32, er
 func (b *BlockChain) calcNextRequiredDifficulty(lastNode *blockNode, block *btcutil.Block) (uint32, error) {
 	// Choose the correct proof of work limit for the active network.
 	powLimit := b.chainParams().PowLimit
+	powLimitBits := b.chainParams().PowLimitBits
 
 	// Genesis block.
 	if lastNode == nil {
-		return BigToCompact(powLimit), nil
+		return powLimitBits, nil
 	}
 
 	// Return the previous block's difficulty requirements if this block
@@ -278,7 +280,7 @@ func (b *BlockChain) calcNextRequiredDifficulty(lastNode *blockNode, block *btcu
 			newBlockTime := block.MsgBlock().Header.Timestamp
 			allowMinTime := lastNode.timestamp.Add(targetSpacing * 2)
 			if newBlockTime.After(allowMinTime) {
-				return BigToCompact(powLimit), nil
+				return powLimitBits, nil
 			}
 
 			// The block was mined within the desired timeframe, so
diff --git a/params.go b/params.go
index c879db2a..21d13658 100644
--- a/params.go
+++ b/params.go
@@ -21,39 +21,50 @@ type Params struct {
 	// PowLimit is the highest proof of work value a bitcoin block can have
 	// for the specific network.
 	PowLimit *big.Int
+
+	// PowLimitBits is the highest proof of work value a bitcoin block can
+	// have represented in compact form.  See CompactToBig for more details
+	// on compact form.
+	PowLimitBits uint32
 }
 
+// mainPowLimit is the highest proof of work value a bitcoin block can have for
+// the main network.  It is the value 2^224 - 1.
+var mainPowLimit = new(big.Int).Sub(new(big.Int).Lsh(bigOne, 224), bigOne)
+
 // mainNetParams contains parameters specific to the main network
 // (btcwire.MainNet).
 var mainNetParams = Params{
 	GenesisBlock: &btcwire.GenesisBlock,
 	GenesisHash:  &btcwire.GenesisHash,
-
-	// PowLimit is the highest proof of work value a bitcoin block can have.
-	// It is the value 2^224 - 1 for the main network.
-	PowLimit: new(big.Int).Sub(new(big.Int).Lsh(bigOne, 224), bigOne),
+	PowLimit:     mainPowLimit,
+	PowLimitBits: BigToCompact(mainPowLimit),
 }
 
+// regressionPowLimit is the highest proof of work value a bitcoin block can
+// have.  It is the value 2^256 - 1.
+var regressionPowLimit = new(big.Int).Sub(new(big.Int).Lsh(bigOne, 255), bigOne)
+
 // regressionParams contains parameters specific to the regression test network
 // (btcwire.TestNet).
 var regressionParams = Params{
 	GenesisBlock: &btcwire.TestNetGenesisBlock,
 	GenesisHash:  &btcwire.TestNetGenesisHash,
-
-	// PowLimit is the highest proof of work value a bitcoin block can have.
-	// It is the value 2^256 - 1 for the regression test network.
-	PowLimit: new(big.Int).Sub(new(big.Int).Lsh(bigOne, 255), bigOne),
+	PowLimit:     regressionPowLimit,
+	PowLimitBits: BigToCompact(regressionPowLimit),
 }
 
+// testNetPowLimit is the highest proof of work value a bitcoin block can have
+// for the test network (version 3).  It is the value 2^224 - 1.
+var testNetPowLimit = new(big.Int).Sub(new(big.Int).Lsh(bigOne, 224), bigOne)
+
 // testNet3Params contains parameters specific to the test network (version 3)
 // (btcwire.TestNet3).
 var testNet3Params = Params{
 	GenesisBlock: &btcwire.TestNet3GenesisBlock,
 	GenesisHash:  &btcwire.TestNet3GenesisHash,
-
-	// PowLimit is the highest proof of work value a bitcoin block can have.
-	// It is the value 2^224 - 1 for the test network (version 3).
-	PowLimit: new(big.Int).Sub(new(big.Int).Lsh(bigOne, 224), bigOne),
+	PowLimit:     testNetPowLimit,
+	PowLimitBits: BigToCompact(testNetPowLimit),
 }
 
 // chainParams returns chain parameters specific to the bitcoin network