877,665 Blocks at Bitcoin’s 16th Anniversary: The Network Keeps Growing

Decrypt reveals the Bitcoin blockchain surpassed 877,665 mined blocks in early 2025—an impressive milestone as BTC marks its 16th year. The first block, the Genesis Block, was mined by Satoshi Nakamoto on January 3, 2009, and the network has matured despite occasional price collapses.

This year also saw a major spike in mining difficulty, signaling sustained miner interest amid potential price surges. Notably, Bitcoin has recorded negative annual returns only three times in its entire history.

The anniversary fuels optimism among enthusiasts: more “digital wallets” are in use, while new Layer-2 solutions aim to cut fees. Digital gold continues to win over both veteran investors and younger generations seeking a reliable alternative to fiat money.