Since its launch in 2009, Bitcoin has captured global attention due to its decentralized nature and limited supply. With a total cap of 21 million coins, Bitcoin’s scarcity plays a fundamental role in its perceived value and market dynamics. This article explores essential details about Bitcoin’s supply, including current circulation figures, mining processes, lost coins, and future projections.
Current Bitcoin Supply in Circulation 📊
As of early 2025, approximately 19.72 million BTC are in circulation. This number reflects all Bitcoins successfully mined to date and available in the market. The circulating supply increases gradually as new blocks are mined and added to the blockchain.
Total Bitcoin Supply Cap
Bitcoin is designed with a fixed maximum supply—only 21 million coins will ever exist. This hard limit is built directly into Bitcoin’s core protocol, making it fundamentally different from traditional fiat currencies, which central banks can issue without restriction.
When Was the First Bitcoin Mined?
The first Bitcoin block, known as the Genesis Block (Block 0), was mined on January 3, 2009, by Satoshi Nakamoto. This event marked the beginning of the Bitcoin network. The block reward at the time was 50 BTC, though these initial coins were coded to be unspendable.
How Many Bitcoins Are Left to Mine?
Roughly 1.18 million BTC remain to be mined. This represents just 5.62% of the total supply, indicating that the vast majority of Bitcoin has already been introduced into circulation.
Why Is Bitcoin Supply Limited?
Bitcoin’s supply is intentionally limited to 21 million coins. This design mimics the scarcity of finite resources like gold and prevents inflation by restricting new coin creation. Satoshi Nakamoto’s early writings suggest this cap was an intentional economic choice to foster long-term value.
How Many Bitcoins Are Lost?
An estimated 3–4 million BTC are considered permanently lost. Common causes include:
- Forgotten passwords or seed phrases
- Hardware failures or damage
- Misplaced or destroyed private keys
These lost coins effectively reduce the active supply, increasing Bitcoin’s scarcity. Many losses occurred in Bitcoin’s early days when storage best practices were less established.
👉 Learn how to secure your Bitcoin holdings
Daily Bitcoin Mining Rate ⛏️
On average, 144 blocks are mined daily. With the current block reward set at 3.125 BTC (post-2024 halving), approximately 900 new Bitcoins are created each day. Note that block times can occasionally be shorter than 10 minutes, slightly increasing daily issuance at times.
Total Bitcoins Mined So Far
As of early 2025, over 19.72 million BTC have been mined. This represents nearly 94% of the total supply. While most are in circulation, a portion remains inaccessible due to loss or intentional holding.
How Many Bitcoin Blocks Exist?
More than 840,000 blocks have been added to the Bitcoin blockchain. Each block contains a batch of verified transactions, contributing to the network’s security and transparency.
Satoshi Nakamoto’s Bitcoin Holdings
Satoshi Nakamoto, Bitcoin’s creator, is believed to hold around 1 million BTC mined during the network’s earliest days. These coins have never been moved, leading some to consider them permanently lost. Their existence highlights Bitcoin’s potential for significant wealth concentration.
Stolen Bitcoins
Major exchange hacks, such as Mt. Gox (850,000 BTC) and Bitfinex (120,000 BTC), have resulted in substantial Bitcoin theft. While stolen coins may still circulate, advancements in blockchain forensics make it increasingly difficult for thieves to liquidate them anonymously.
Bitcoin Millionaires
Recent reports indicate there are over 85,000 Bitcoin millionaires—individuals holding more than $1 million worth of BTC. This number has grown significantly as Bitcoin’s price and adoption have increased, though the exact count is challenging to verify due to the pseudonymous nature of blockchain addresses.
Number of Bitcoin Miners
Globally, there are an estimated one million Bitcoin miners. The United States contributes the largest share of the network’s hashrate. Mining pools, such as Slush Pool, consolidate mining power, allowing participants to share rewards more consistently.
When Will the Last Bitcoin Be Mined?
The final Bitcoin is projected to be mined around the year 2140. This timeline is based on Bitcoin’s 10-minute average block time and scheduled halving events, which periodically reduce mining rewards.
What Happens After All Bitcoins Are Mined?
Once all 21 million BTC are mined, miners will no longer receive block rewards. Instead, they will rely solely on transaction fees for income. The security and functionality of the network will then depend on sufficient transaction volume to incentivize miners.
Bitcoin Halvings
Halvings occur every 210,000 blocks and cut the block reward in half. The next halving is expected around March 2028. The most recent halving occurred in April 2024, reducing rewards from 6.25 BTC to 3.125 BTC per block.
How Long Does It Take to Mine One Bitcoin?
Mining a full Bitcoin individually is nearly impossible for most due to high competition and resource requirements. Through mining pools, participants earn fractions of BTC based on their contributed computational power. Currently, the network produces about 0.31 BTC per minute collectively.
Largest Bitcoin Holders
Apart from Satoshi Nakamoto, large holders include early adopters, institutional investors, and cryptocurrency exchanges. These entities control significant portions of Bitcoin’s total supply.
Global Bitcoin Adoption
Countries with high Bitcoin adoption rates include India, the United States, Brazil, and Nigeria. Factors such as inflation, currency instability, and financial inclusion needs drive interest in these regions.
Why Bitcoin’s Limited Supply Matters
Bitcoin’s fixed supply ensures it cannot be devalued through arbitrary issuance. This deflationary model contrasts sharply with government-issued currencies and positions Bitcoin as a potential store of value.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the Bitcoin supply limit set at 21 million?
Satoshi Nakamoto designed Bitcoin with a capped supply to emulate the scarcity of precious metals like gold. The 21 million cap was an intentional economic choice to promote value preservation and avoid inflation.
Can the 21 million Bitcoin supply limit be changed?
While technically possible through a network-wide consensus update, altering Bitcoin’s supply cap is highly unlikely. Such a change would undermine Bitcoin’s core value proposition and likely cause a community split.
What happens if too many Bitcoins are lost?
Lost coins increase scarcity, potentially driving up the value of remaining Bitcoins. However, extreme loss could reduce liquidity and transaction activity. Even with significant losses, the network remains functional.
How can I check Bitcoin’s circulating supply in real time?
You can monitor real-time Bitcoin supply data using blockchain explorers or market data platforms like CoinMarketCap. These tools provide transparent, up-to-date information on issuance and circulation.
Why is tracking Bitcoin supply important?
Understanding supply metrics helps investors assess scarcity, market valuation, and potential price trends. It also offers insight into network security and miner activity.
Will transaction fees be enough to sustain miners after all Bitcoins are mined?
This depends on Bitcoin’s adoption and transaction volume. If usage grows sufficiently, fees could adequately compensate miners. Layer-2 solutions like the Lightning Network may also help increase transaction throughput and fee revenue.