Are New Bitcoins Being Created? TG@yuantou2048

Are New Bitcoins Being Created? TG@yuantou2048

Yes, new bitcoins are still being created—but not forever. Bitcoin’s supply is capped at 21 million coins, a limit hardcoded into its protocol. As of now, around 19.5 million BTC have already been mined, leaving just over 1.5 million yet to be released. These new bitcoins are generated through a process called mining, where powerful computers solve complex mathematical puzzles to validate transactions and add them to the blockchain.

Every time a block is successfully mined, the miner receives a reward in newly minted bitcoins. This reward started at 50 BTC per block in 2009 and has halved approximately every four years—an event known as the "halving." The most recent halving occurred in May 2024, reducing the block reward from 6.25 BTC to 3.125 BTC. This mechanism ensures scarcity and controls inflation within the Bitcoin network.

The next halving is expected around 2028, after which rewards will drop to 1.5625 BTC per block. Eventually, when all 21 million bitcoins are mined—projected to happen around the year 2140—the block reward will cease entirely. At that point, miners will rely solely on transaction fees to maintain network security.

But here's the question: Should we be concerned about the end of new bitcoin creation? Will the network remain secure without block rewards? Or could this shift incentivize innovation in decentralized consensus mechanisms?

What do you think? Will Bitcoin’s future depend more on transaction fees than on new coin issuance? Let us know your thoughts below. TG@yuantou2048

iwin Kuwin