Bitcoin Halving
By Menno — 13 years in crypto, 3 bear markets survived, zero paid promotions
Last updated: March 2026
A Bitcoin halving is a programmed event occurring roughly every 4 years that cuts the mining reward in half, reducing new BTC supply. Halvings have historically preceded major bull markets.
Bitcoin halvings are predetermined events coded into Bitcoin's protocol that reduce the block mining reward by 50%. They occur every 210,000 blocks (approximately every 4 years).
Halving history: - 2012: reward dropped from 50 to 25 BTC per block - 2016: reward dropped from 25 to 12.5 BTC per block - 2020: reward dropped from 12.5 to 6.25 BTC per block - 2024: reward dropped from 6.25 to 3.125 BTC per block - ~2028: will drop to 1.5625 BTC per block
Why halvings matter: they reduce the rate of new Bitcoin entering circulation. With demand staying constant or growing, reducing supply creates upward price pressure (basic supply and demand economics).
Historical pattern: Bitcoin has reached new all-time highs within 12-18 months after each halving. While past performance doesn't guarantee future results, the halving cycle is the most-watched event in crypto.
The final Bitcoin will be mined around 2140, when all 21 million BTC have been produced. After that, miners will rely solely on transaction fees.
Related Terms
Bitcoin (BTC)
Bitcoin is the first and largest cryptocurrency by market cap, created in 2009 by the pseudonymous Satoshi Nakamoto. It functions as a decentralized digital currency and store of value secured by proof-of-work mining.
Crypto Mining
Crypto mining is the process of using specialized hardware to validate blockchain transactions and earn cryptocurrency rewards. Bitcoin miners secure the network through proof-of-work computation.
Proof of Work (PoW)
Proof of work is a consensus mechanism where miners compete to solve complex mathematical puzzles to validate transactions and create new blocks. Bitcoin uses proof of work, which is energy-intensive but highly secure.
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