Bitcoin’s Halving is one of its most powerful features
Every ~4 years, Bitcoin cuts the reward for miners in half.
This built-in rule is known as the Halving, and it’s crucial for how Bitcoin remains valuable over time.
🔍 What exactly gets halved?
Miners receive newly created BTC when they add a valid block to the blockchain.
That’s how new Bitcoin enters circulation.
But every 210,000 blocks (~4 years), that reward gets cut in half.
📆 Bitcoin Halving Timeline
| Year | Block Reward (BTC) |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 50.00000000 |
| 2012 | 25.00000000 |
| 2016 | 12.50000000 |
| 2020 | 6.25000000 |
| 2024 | 3.12500000 |
| 2028 | 1.56250000 |
| 2032 | 0.78125000 |
| 2036 | 0.39062500 |
| 2040 | 0.19531250 |
| 2136 | ~0.00000002 |
| 2140 | 0 BTC (final reward) |
💡 Analogy
Picture a treasure chest that used to give out 50 gold coins a day.
Then 25. Then 12.5.
With each cycle, it gives fewer coins — but each one becomes more valuable.
📈 Why it matters
-
Slows down new Bitcoin supply
-
Creates digital scarcity
-
Supports long-term value
-
Strengthens Bitcoin’s deflationary nature
🧠 Summary
✅ The Halving happens every ~4 years
✅ It reduces the mining reward
✅ It makes Bitcoin scarcer and more predictable
✅ It’s one reason Bitcoin is called digital gold
Coming up tomorrow
Bitcoin has drawn criticism for its energy use.
Tomorrow we’ll explore energy and mining — and the truth behind Bitcoin’s environmental impact.
