Bybit
A key event in the crypto industry is approaching —the Bitcoin halving countdown date. Before discussing how this will affect the Bitcoin price, it's worth understanding the basics. What is bitcoin halving, and why does it attract so much attention? What implications could this have for miners and investors? We deal with these questions in the new material and provide comprehensive answers.
What is Bitcoin Halving?
To understand halving, you must understand the mining basics and how btc is formed. The idea is that new bitcoins appear as a reward for miners when they mine cryptocurrency blocks. The developer of the halving is a virtual person or group of people under the name Satoshi Nakamoto. It was he who set the rules regarding the Bitcoin protocol. Several points were noted:
- a limited supply of bitcoin - no more than 21 million;
- The reward for the generated currency decreases every 210,000 blocks.
In March 2019, information stated that more than 17 million bitcoins had already been mined. This represents 84% of the total cryptocurrency supply. Even though all BTC is planned to be mined in 2140, spending some of it is possible. After all, as statistics show, about 30% of all mined cryptocurrency is lost, and recovery is impossible.
Why was this done?
Halving has a positive effect on the state of BTC. Its main purpose is not only to support crypto but also to increase its price. There is an opinion that reducing the reward by 2 times will lead to the entire mining segment being managed by a limited circle of traders (miners). They have been developing and improving their base for many years to increase profits. It is impossible to say whether newcomers can stay in the mining environment unequivocally. Only time will tell.
When the first two halvings occurred, the volatility of the coin increased. If in 2012, the cost of one bitcoin was 11 dollars, then in 2013, it increased to 10–20 thousand dollars. Experts who study the effect of halving cannot give a specific answer to what will happen to the cryptocurrency in May 2020. Some believe the cost will increase. Others, on the contrary, are confident that no changes are expected. Analysts at Digital Asset Research are confident that in 2020, the price of one bitcoin will be almost 60 thousand dollars. This assumption was made based on data obtained in the intervals between the two previous halvings.
If we predict the cost of cryptocurrency in 2021, then a record high of $120 thousand is expected. In 2024, when there is a fourth wave of halvings, the price could rise to $732,000.
Past halving event dates
Bitcoin halving countdown has already happened several times. The first appeared in November 2012, and the second in July 2016. When Bitcoin started to take shape and gain favor, miners accepted a reward of about 50 BTC for adding a new block to the blockchain. After the first bitcoin halving date, the payout amount decreased to 25 BTC, and after the second—to 12.5 BTC.
When Is the Next BTC Halving?
Another halving is expected in April 20, 2024, which will reduce the reward to miners to 6.25 BTC. This situation is justified by the fact that a new block is added every 10 minutes. The next halving is planned for block 630,000.
Many may wonder why leaving the current Bitcoin halving is impossible and not reducing the reward several times. The answer is simple: it all depends on supply and demand. If the supply of crypto is unlimited or coins appear too quickly, the currency will depreciate sooner or later. And this will lead to losses not only for developers but also for ordinary people who are engaged in mining.
How Does Bitcoin Halving Affect the Price of Bitcoin?
Bitcoin mining is becoming a business, and the retail mining market is becoming a thing of the past. Private miners cannot earn money alone, so they join pools: everyone provides their computing power, and miners participate together in finding a block and receive and share the reward.
After Bitcoin halving, some miners will leave, turning off inefficient equipment. The network hash rate will drop for a certain period but increase for a long time.
Those who want to start mining Bitcoin will have the opportunity to predict their income based on a stable reward over the next four years. The price of cryptocurrency after halving usually increases, especially within 1–1.5 years, which attracts new players.
There is a high probability that more efficient ways to mine BTC will emerge. Using older equipment, such as the Antminer S9, can be beneficial in areas where electricity costs are low.
Conclusion
Halving is a useful process for the cryptocurrency community, allowing it to curb inflation, attract investors, and prolong Bitcoin's existence. If we rely on the two previous halvings, we can expect a gradual increase in the price.
Miners will have to upgrade their equipment or join larger pools. Even if some of them switch to other cryptocurrencies, new miners will come to the market; that is, the situation will stabilize in the future. Long-term investors can simply hold assets and watch the market.