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Story: Bitcoin Mining Milestone: 20 Million Coins Mined as Supply Dwindles

By Jean-Luc Maracon

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Bitcoin reaches a significant milestone as over 20 million coins have been mined. This leaves less than one million coins remaining before the cryptocurrency's total supply cap…

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The final Bitcoin won’t appear quickly. The projection for mining the last satoshis stretches to 2140.

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Miners earn bitcoins as block rewards for processing transactions. Initially, this reward was 50 BTC per block.

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Currently, Bitcoin miners produce about 450 BTC each day, a significant decrease from the pre-2024 halving rate.

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Lost bitcoins also affect the available supply. Some early coins were sent to addresses without private keys, rendering them irretrievable. Estimates suggest that between 2 and 3.

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Some bitcoins are unspendable. For instance, the 50 BTC from Bitcoin's first block cannot be accessed. This scarcity reinforces Bitcoin’s characterization as "hard money."

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While Bitcoin's issuance slows, its price remains volatile. It fluctuates with market conditions, investor sentiment, and economic news.

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Long-term, Bitcoin’s fixed supply offers a contrast to traditional currencies. Analysts note that predictability and limited supply are valued traits, especially amid…

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By 2140, miners will depend solely on transaction fees, possibly increasing Bitcoin transaction costs. This shift ensures network security remains without new coin creation.

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Bitcoin transitions from an experimental phase to a rare digital asset. Though daily prices fluctuate with economic tides, its scarcity is embedded in its design, making it a…

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The Bitcoin community remains keenly aware of the diminishing supply. On March 8, 2026, prominent Bitcoin advocate and developer Jameson Lopp tweeted about the milestone,…

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In financial markets, this milestone has not gone unnoticed. Investment firm Grayscale, which manages the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust, noted in a recent report that the reduced…

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March 2026 also saw a statement from the Bitcoin Mining Council, an industry group focused on promoting sustainable mining practices.

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Meanwhile, some cryptocurrency exchanges are preparing for potential price movements. Binance, one of the largest exchanges by volume, has increased its reserves, anticipating…

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On March 9, 2026, Fidelity Investments released a statement acknowledging Bitcoin's milestone of 20 million mined coins.

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