CryptoPotato
CryptoPotato
  • Crypto News
  • Margin Trading
  • Guides
    • Bitcoin & Crypto Guides 101
    • Bitcoin For Beginners
    • Editorials
  • DeFi & NFT
  • Buy
  • Language
  • Crypto News
  • Bitcoin For Beginners
  • Cryptocurrency Guides 101
  • Editorials
  • Bitcoin & Crypto Margin Trading
  • DeFi & NFT News
  • Bitcoin Price Analysis
  • CryptoPotato Crypto Fund
  • Ethereum (ETH) Price Analysis
  • Ripple (XRP) Price Analysis
  • Market Updates
  • Interviews
  • Buy Bitcoin with Card
  • bitcoin
    BTC$23,964.00
  • ethereum
    ETH$1,774.51
    • Market Updates
    • BTC Analysis
    • ETH Analysis
    • XRP Analysis
    • Interviews
    • Crypto Fund
    CryptoPotato
    CryptoPotato
    • Crypto News
    • Margin Trading
    • Guides
      • Bitcoin & Crypto Guides 101
      • Bitcoin For Beginners
      • Editorials
    • DeFi & NFT
    • Buy
    • Language
    • Crypto News
    • Bitcoin For Beginners
    • Cryptocurrency Guides 101
    • Editorials
    • Bitcoin & Crypto Margin Trading
    • DeFi & NFT News
    • Bitcoin Price Analysis
    • CryptoPotato Crypto Fund
    • Ethereum (ETH) Price Analysis
    • Ripple (XRP) Price Analysis
    • Market Updates
    • Interviews
    • Buy Bitcoin with Card
    Home » Crypto News » 90% of All Bitcoin is Now Mined: The Remaining 10% Will Take Approximately 120 Years to Mine

    90% of All Bitcoin is Now Mined: The Remaining 10% Will Take Approximately 120 Years to Mine

    Author: Dimitar Dzhondzhorov

    Last Updated Dec 13, 2021 @ 12:42

    18.89 bitcoins have already been mined, representing 90% of the total supply. The remaining 10%, however, will take 120 years to mine.

    Less than 13 years after seeing the light of day, the Bitcoin network has reached a significant milestone as 90% of all BTC ever to exist has been mined. However, the remaining 10% will take a lot more time – more than 100 years, according to some estimation. 

    90% in 12 Years

    Bitcoin’s history began nearly 13 years ago, as its network launched on January 3, 2009. Back then, Satoshi Nakamoto – the mysterious architect(s) of the project – mined the starting block of the chain, known as the Genesis Block. 

    One of the critical and most valued features of Bitcoin is its digital scarcity that comes from the fact that no more than 21 million bitcoins could ever be created.

    According to data from BlockchainCom, there are 18.89 million BTC already mined, representing 90% of the total supply. There are less than 2 million bitcoins left to mine after today. However, due to the regular halving events, the self-adjusting difficulty, and other pre-programmed features, it is estimated that this will take quite some time and that the 21 millionth BTC will be “created” in the distant 2140.

    Total Circulating Bitcoin. Source: Blockchain.com
    Total Circulating Bitcoin. Source: Blockchain.com

    10% in Nearly 120 Years

    According to math, the full 100% will be mined in the middle of the next century as the main reason for it is the Bitcoin halving. In short, this is a pre-programmed event occurring every 210,000 blocks (roughly four years as of yet) that slashes the block reward that miners receive in half.  As of now, this reward is 6.25 BTC, while in 2024, it will be reduced to 3.125. In comparison, it started at 50 BTC per block in 2009.

    Another significant feature created to assure bitcoin’s stable speed of producing new coins is the mining difficulty adjustment. Essentially, it’s a process occurring every 2,016 blocks (two weeks) that makes it either more difficult or easier for miners to do their work.

    If there are too many miners currently trying to mine new bitcoins, the difficulty adjustment will make it harder for them to receive the rewards and vice-versa. This will ensure that the block creation remains stable.

    A valid example of the mining difficulty merits came earlier this year. As China implemented an all-out ban on anything crypto, miners had to close shops and move away.

    The hash rate, which is indicative of the robustness of the network, plummeted in the following months, and the block creation was delayed. However, the blockchain went through several consecutive negative adjustments that made it significantly easier for miners to do their job. 

    Lost Coins and Digital Scarcity

    While the total supply of 21 million BTCs is expected to be mined next century, not all can even reach the open market because more than 3.5 million bitcoins have been “lost” due to misplacing private keys or even death events.

    There’re multiple examples of investors, typically early adopters, who had mined or received substantial quantities of BTC years ago but failed to keep them safe. 

    One such person is the German-born programmer Stefan Thomas. In 2011, he produced an educational video called “What is Bitcoin?” for another BTC fan, who sent him 7,002 bitcoins in return.

    In the beginning, Thomas didn’t pay much attention to his new holdings as they had a little-to-no value at the time, and he lost the digital keys to the wallet. However, the coins are now worth over $340 million, and the man is desperate to find out his password.

    This only goes to show the importance of keeping your BTC safe, remembering (writing down) the private keys and also highlighting bitcoin’s scarcity even more. After all, nearly 17% of the asset’s total supply has presumably been lost irretrievably, making it even more scarce than it was intended to be.

    SPECIAL OFFER (Sponsored)
    Binance Free $100 (Exclusive): Use this link to register and receive $100 free and 10% off fees on Binance Futures first month (terms).

    PrimeXBT Special Offer: Use this link to register & enter POTATO50 code to receive up to $7,000 on your deposits.

    Tags: Bitcoin Bitcoin Hash Rate Bitcoin Mining
    Enjoy reading? Share with your friends
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Telegram

    About The Author

    Dimitar Dzhondzhorov
    More posts by this author

    Dimitar got interested in cryptocurrencies back in 2018 amid the prolonged bear market. His biggest passion in the field is Bitcoin and he was fascinated with its journey. With a flair for producing high-quality content, he started covering the cryptocurrency space in late 2018. His hobby is football.

  • bitcoin
    BTC$23,964.00
  • ethereum
    ETH$1,774.51
  • Join Our Community

    FacebookTwitter YouTubeTelegram


    Editorials
    Users in Web3 Will Do a lot More Than Just Trade Crypto: Cronos’ Ken Timsit (Interview)

    Users in Web3 Will Do a lot More Than Just Trade Crypto: Cronos’ Ken Timsit (Interview)

    Institutions Are Starting to Buy Back: Interview with Nansen

    Institutions Are Starting to Buy Back: Interview with Nansen

    Top 5 Most Common Scams Related to Ethereum 2.0

    Top 5 Most Common Scams Related to Ethereum 2.0

    What is the Merge? What You Need to Know About the Transition to Ethereum 2.0

    What is the Merge? What You Need to Know About the Transition to Ethereum 2.0

    These are the Bear Market Benefits, and the Future of NFTs: DappRadar CEO (Interview)

    These are the Bear Market Benefits, and the Future of NFTs: DappRadar CEO (Interview)

    5 Common Mistakes to Avoid During a Crypto Bear Market

    5 Common Mistakes to Avoid During a Crypto Bear Market

    The Cardano Roadmap Eras Explained: Byron, Shelley, Goguen, Basho, and Voltaire

    The Cardano Roadmap Eras Explained: Byron, Shelley, Goguen, Basho, and Voltaire

    Join Our Newsletter
    Become a CryptoPotato VIP
    One Weekly Email Can Change Your Crypto Life.
    Sign-up FREE to receive our extended weekly market update and coin analysis report
    We NEVER send spam. You can unsubscribe at any time.
    Invalid email address
    Thanks for subscribing!
    Footer Logo
    About
    Advertise on CryptoPotato
    About Us | Contact Us | Careers

    Terms of service | Privacy Policy | GDPR
    More Sections
    IEO List | Evaluations
    Airdrops
    Scholarship
    Cannabis Stocks News | Market Analysis
    Disclaimer
    Disclaimer: Information found on CryptoPotato is those of writers quoted. It does not represent the opinions of CryptoPotato on whether to buy, sell, or hold any investments. You are advised to conduct your own research before making any investment decisions. Use provided information at your own risk. Full disclaimer
    © Copyright CryptoPotato 2016 - 2021
    Scroll to top
    One Weekly Email Can Change Your Crypto Life.

    Sign-up FREE to receive our extended weekly market update and coin analysis report

    We never send SPAM. You can unsubscribe at any moment
    Invalid email address
    Thanks for subscribing!