On Bitcoins are not infinite. The blockchain and system of this cryptocurrency is designed to issue a limited amount: a total of 21 million BitcoinBeyond that amount, no more Bitcoins can be mined. What will happen then? Well, it's hard to say, since The date on which the last BTC will be mined is still far away: more than a hundred years away. That is, none of us alive now will be around at that moment. But before that last Bitcoin is mined, a series of moments known as "halving”, which force the reduction of the amount of this cryptocurrency.
Blockchain is a complex system that blends technology with economics. To maintain the price of BTC, it was established as a currency with a limit: 21 million Bitcoin. Also, it has a predetermined time. Every four years, the possibility of mining (creating) new Bitcoins is halved.. Thus, over time, BTCs become increasingly scarce and more complicated to generate. Powerful computers are required, which makes them more expensive (hardware costs, more energy, and more time to generate). But, This has a scarcity effect: there is less Bitcoin and demand increases. Consequence? The price of BTC goes upHowever, there is a catch: once the 21 millionth Bitcoin is generated, the blockchain and network will no longer allow further mining of this cryptocurrency.
What is Bitcoin halving?
To understand how the “last Bitcoin”, it is first necessary to understand certain peculiarities of its blockchain and the mining procedure. Both the creation and transactions of Bitcoin are executed using a procedure called “mining is.”, which is carried out through software applications that are run on hardware built for that purpose.
On Miners around the world connect through a peer-to-peer network, creating a digital network that integrates blocks known as Blockchain. Each piece of data on this network leaves a digital footprint that is unique and cannot be changed. This is where the security of BTC lies. This is how the blockchain, which is a kind of “large ledger” which records all cryptocurrency movements.
On Bitcoins are created through the mining process, which requires complex calculations.This mining has a detail: it goes through the “halving” process, which means that Every 4 years the capacity to generate Bitcoins is halved.. Let's look at some examples.
- In May 2020, the amount of Bitcoins that could be create was reduced from 12,5 to 6,25 per mined blockMiners earn this reward in exchange for having equipment connected to the BTC network; this is how Bitcoins are generated.
- Then, In April 2025, another reduction in the capacity to generate these cryptocurrencies occurred: from 6,25 to 3,125Every four years, the possibility of generating these digital currencies will continue to be halved.
- Thus BTC will be generated until the maximum amount of 21 million is reachedThat is, the production curve for these coins is increasingly flat, which prevents an excess of Bitcoins and keeps the supply low, keeping the price of this cryptocurrency high.
Undoubtedly, the Bitcoin has been intelligently thought outThanks to the halving, this currency has recovered from several price crashes. Likewise, this halving process has prevented the rapid generation of 21 million BTC, causing the process to drag on and the new Bitcoins to have a high value. However, a question arises: ¿when would the 21 millionth Bitcoin be generated?
It is estimated that the last Bitcoin will be generated in the year 2140.
Calculations indicate that in the 2140 would be the year in which the 21 millionth Bitcoin is minedAnd with that, production of this currency ends! It's important to note that Bitcoins are becoming increasingly expensive to produce, so by 2140, the last Bitcoin would be the result of a lot of effort and time spent mining computers.
The world will surely be very different by then. Imagining what will happen when BTC runs out is speculative, but one thing is certain: once the generation of these coins ends, Miners will only make profits from transactions involving these cryptocurrencies.
This means that the Bitcoin protocol rewards those who have computers on its blockchain network for two reasons: 1) for generating cryptocurrencies and 2) for recording Bitcoin movementsIt follows that from the year 2140 onwards, the value of BTC will be determined by the number of transactions carried out.
What will the last Bitcoin be worth?
En December 2024, Bitcoin reached a value of more than $100.000; but then in 2025 its price dropped by 30%. Why did it go up so much in 2024? The reason seems to be the process of halving, which reduced the amount of these coins. Similarly, in some additional circumstances, such as the support that the new government of Donald Trump has led to the creation of a crypto reserve.
The truth is that BTC has always been on the riseEvery four years, the capacity to generate it is reduced, which has an obvious effect: it reduces the possibility of excess coins. In fact, as demand rises, this causes the price to continue to rise. If this continues to happen, the price of Bitcoin would reach unthinkable levels by 2140. But it's also possible that this last Bitcoin (number 21 million) has a very high valuation. Another speculation is: How much will Bitcoins be worth after they can no longer be generated? Something could happen: Bitcoins will be traded and will have a very high value for over a hundred years.
Al not being able to produce them, they will become unique. This is how BTC will become something similar to gold, silver and precious metals: they are extracted from mines and when the mines are exhausted, then these metals are worth more. This demonstrates that It is no coincidence that the word “mining” is used to generate Bitcoins.And the mining of these Bitcoins has an expiration date: the year 2140.
