How many total bitcoins are there in the world today

How many bitcoins are there in the world

Bitcoin is a decentralized payment system, which in 2009 was conceived as an alternative tool against the disadvantages of traditional banks. The virtual asset BTC, in which transfers are made, differs from fiat currencies by limited issuance and has deflationary properties. If a user is going to mine the asset, he needs to understand how many bitcoins there are in the world at the moment and when the last coin will be received. Then he will be able to determine the feasibility of investing in special ASIC equipment.

How many bitcoins are mined in the world today

Currently, there are 19.75 million coins in circulation. The maximum total number of bitcoins in the world is 21 million. More than 94% of the total amount of BTC, which is envisioned by developers and can exist, has been mined. However, miners will have to work for several decades to get the last Bitcoin.

How many total bitcoins are there in the world today
The circulating supply of bitcoin

How much BTC is left to mine

Knowing the numbers of the maximum and circulating supply, it is not difficult to make a calculation. Thus, there are 1.25 million BTC left to mine today. It seems that the last Bitcoin will be obtained soon. However, the assumption is incorrect, because the network algorithms assume a gradual decrease in the mining speed.

This happens in the process of halving – reducing miners’ rewards for their work. Every 4 years, payments for mining the main cryptocurrency are reduced by 2 times.

The table reflects the changes that occur as a result of halving cycles. It can be seen that the block high grows in proportion to the reduction of the reward.

NumberDateBlock heightReward per block (BTC)
0
0
50
1
11/28/2012
210 000
25
2
07/09/2016
420 000
12,5
3
2020
630 000
6,25
4
2024
840 000
3,125
5
2028
1 050 000
1,5625

A total of 32 halvings are planned by the developers. Analysts note that as a result of mining the maximum volume of coins, Bitcoin will be able to displace gold in terms of its value and become a protective asset.

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How much BTC is mined per day

There are 900 new coins per day. The value of 1 block is 3.125 BTC, and it takes an average of 10 minutes to mine it.

Reasons for limited issuance

The concept of limited issuance is the desire of the programmers behind the development of the cryptoproject. Over time, this approach will influence the asset’s price to increase and bitcoin to become a “hard currency”. But there are a number of other reasons for limited issuance:

  • Demand management.
  • Eliminating inflation.
  • Competitiveness against fiat currencies.
  • Psychological value factor due to scarcity.

Trends are already demonstrating the fact that developers have not made a mistake in their approach to limited issuance of coins. The following are worth noting:

  • Miners do not leave the market even after the 4th halving and believe in the project.
  • Bitcoin overtakes most other virtual assets in terms of capitalization by dozens of times.
  • The cryptocurrency influences other coins when trends change.

When the last Bitcoin will be mined

The network’s algorithms and limited issuance allow you to determine the period of the end of coins quite accurately. As a result of halving, the number of mined coins is reduced by 2 times. If the developers do not change plans, then 32 cycles will occur.

Using the formula, you can mathematically calculate when the maximum amount of Bitcoin in the world will be released:

A+A/2+A/4+A/8+…A/2x,

where x is the degree, which corresponds to the number of halving cycles. As a result, it will take approximately 119 years to complete mining 10% of the remaining coins. The last BTC will be issued by 2140.

Lost Coins

In a separate piece on the site, you can find out who has the most Bitcoins in the world. But not all of the coins mined and placed on wallets are available for use.

In July 2023, representatives of the tracking group Glassnode Alerts indicated in their Twitter account that almost 7.78 million BTC were lost or in long-term storage. This represents 39% of the number of bitcoins mined.

The coins were lost due to cryptocurrency wallet owners forgetting or losing private keys. In fact, they these units of assets exist, but due to the inability to access them are considered lost.

How many total bitcoins are there in the world today
Glassnode Alerts data on the number of Bitcoins lost and held for a long time

Summary

Experts believe that there can be no radical changes with Bitcoin now and in the future. The cryptocurrency will continue to hold a strong position after the maximum number of coins have been mined.

But there are threats:

  • The emergence of computers capable of decrypting private keys.
  • Competition in the virtual coin market and better technology.
  • Increased regulation of cryptocurrencies at the state level.

By 2140, there will be significantly fewer coins in circulation. The reason for this is lost koins in cryptocurrency wallet accounts. Maybe exchanges will close without compensating users for their losses.

The assumption that digital currencies will surpass fiat money is mentioned even by avid skeptics. But what shocks and changes the assets will undergo over the decades is anyone’s guess.

Frequently Asked Questions

💻 What equipment is used to mine Bitcoin?

It is possible to mine cryptocurrency on special devices – ASICs. Mining with the use of video cards and CPUs (central processing units) is unprofitable, as the cost of electricity exceeds the profit.

❔ What should I do if my cryptocurrency wallet password is lost?

The anonymity of services and the lack of user authentication implies the impossibility of restoring access. Unfortunately, with the loss of the key, the owner of koins will be permanently deprived of coins.

✅ Is it possible to earn by mining when all the koins are obtained?

There is no limit to the number of blocks. Miners will continue to receive commissions for confirming transactions.

❗ Where to buy cryptocurrency?

You can buy a digital asset on the exchange, in an online exchange and even in a virtual wallet. The best rates and conditions more often provide trading platforms.

🚹 Who is Satoshi Nakamoto?

This is the name of the developer of cryptocurrency. However, his true identity is not known to anyone. There is speculation that a group of programmers is hiding behind a pseudonym.

❓ What can cryptocurrency be used for?

BTC is applicable for P2P payments, overseas transfers, investments and mining.

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Author: Saifedean Ammous, an expert in cryptocurrency economics.

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