Whether you're a seasoned trader, a HODLer, or a casual admirer of the Bitcoin phenomenon, the 2024 Bitcoin halving is an event you should know about.
Here's a comprehensive guide to prepare you for what will take place later this month.
Bitcoin Halving is essential to the deflationary nature of Bitcoin. It's an event hard-coded into Bitcoin's genesis block by its pseudonymous creator, Satoshi Nakamoto. The mechanism is simple on the surface — reduce the rewards for miners periodically to create artificial inflation. The mining rewards represent the rate at which new Bitcoin gets created.
Bitcoin has experienced three halvings thus far, each about four years apart. The first halving took place in November 2012, followed by those in July 2016 and the third in May 2020. Every halving has captured the attention of the financial world given Bitcoin's growing prominence. The 2024 Halving is expected to happen on April 20th, after 210,000 blocks have been mined.
The core of Bitcoin Halving lies in the structure of mining rewards. Initially set at 50 BTC per block, it was first halved to 25 BTC and then further reduced to 12.5 BTC. The most recent halving reduced this to the current 6.25 BTC. The upcoming halving will cut this reward in half yet again to 3.125 BTC. This reduction means that miners will earn less for validating blocks, a factor with significant implications for their operations and the rate at which Bitcoin’s supply continues to grow.
The Bitcoin Halving serves a grander purpose — to reach the coin's ultimate supply cap of 21 million BTC. With over 18.5 million already in circulation, the pace toward this finite quantity quickens with each halving. The growing rarity of new Bitcoin issuance is a critical element in Bitcoin's deflationary mechanism.
Each halving introduces a new Bitcoin dynamics model that market participants must understand. While it can lead to shorter-term market fluctuations, the long-term outlook is one of gradual stabilization and increased investor trust in Bitcoin's value retention capabilities.
Your Bitcoin holdings on Coinsquare will not be directly affected by the halving. The halving only affects the reward given to miners for adding new blocks to the blockchain.
The Bitcoin halving occurs as part of the cryptocurrency’s underlying rules, set down by its creator Satoshi Nakamoto. It happens every 210,000 blocks, or approximately every four years, to control Bitcoin's supply and inflation.
For Coinsquare users, the Bitcoin halving could potentially mean a change in the value of their Bitcoin holdings due to the reduced supply of new coins entering the market. However, market conditions are unpredictable and can vary.
We will keep users informed about major events like the Bitcoin halving through our social channels. You can follow us on X (Twitter) or Instagram to stay up to date. You can also follow the progress on various Bitcoin block reward halving countdown websites.
Yes, you can buy Bitcoin on Coinsquare during or after a halving. The Bitcoin halving does not affect the ability to buy or sell Bitcoin on Coinsquare.
Yes, your Bitcoin is safe on Coinsquare during a Bitcoin halving. Coinsquare uses industry-leading security measures to protect your assets.
