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Topic: Will the ACTIVE supply of Bitcoin eventually fall and is there a way to stop it? - page 2. (Read 1203 times)

sr. member
Activity: 350
Merit: 250
I suspect that when our generation of Bitcoin holders dies, a lot of us will not have left information for our heirs to access our wallets. If so, then most of the Bitcoin supply will eventually become inactive as most wallets containing Bitcoin will belong to people who are deceased. As mining will eventually finish as well, there will be no way to generate new bitcoins. The TOTAL supply and market cap will look the same on paper but, in reality, the ACTIVE supply and market cap will be a lot less due to these inactive wallets. Eventually, as the active supply falls, the price should rise but it will not reflect the total supply just the active supply.

After all Bitcoins are generated, do you agree that the ACTIVE supply will eventually fall and is there a way to stop it?

In the long run, if 50% of Bitcoin’s total supply becomes inactive will people still want to use it?

Is there a way to measure active supply?

Can crypto-currencies be programmed to automatically burn all coins in wallets that have been inactive for more than 100 years?

It is matter of concern. But we can handle over our wallet password and all related details to our future generations as we do in our physical properties.But if we fail to do so, then the number of active coins in circulation would eventually decrease. This will create a difference in demand and supply and bitcoin price would increase more.
legendary
Activity: 3416
Merit: 4658
I suspect that when our generation of Bitcoin holders dies, a lot of us will not have left information for our heirs to access our wallets.

Why not?  It's not like you can take it with you.

If so, then most of the Bitcoin supply will eventually become inactive as most wallets containing Bitcoin will belong to people who are deceased.

Unlikely, but theoretically not impossible.

As mining will eventually finish as well, there will be no way to generate new bitcoins. The TOTAL supply and market cap will look the same on paper but, in reality, the ACTIVE supply and market cap will be a lot less due to these inactive wallets. Eventually, as the active supply falls, the price should rise but it will not reflect the total supply just the active supply.

Correct.  This is called "deflation" and is why bitcoin is considered to be a deflationary currency in the long run.  It was intentionally designed this way, and anyone that chooses to use it is voluntarily choosing to participate in a deflationary currency whether they realize it or not.

After all Bitcoins are generated, do you agree that the ACTIVE supply will eventually fall

Slowly.  Yes.  This is intended behavior and is how bitcoin was intentionally designed to work.

and is there a way to stop it?

Not without a hard fork and agreement from the vast majority of all participants (miners, nodes, merchants, users, exchanges, speculators, etc).  Getting that sort of agreement on changing the very nature of bitcoin, a nature that most of them desire in the first place, is effectively impossible.  It isn't going to happen.  Why would you want to stop it anyhow?  This is one of the great features of bitcoin.

In the long run, if 50% of Bitcoin’s total supply becomes inactive will people still want to use it?

Absolutely!  Why wouldn't you?  You get to have the exact same number of satoshis, but they are worth twice as much money.  Isn't this a good thing?

Is there a way to measure active supply?

Not precisely.  You could look at "bitcoin days destroyed" or "total bitcoins that haven't moved recently", but that wouldn't distinguish between bitcoins that are inactive due to being "permanently lost" and bitcoins that are inactive due to being "stored for later use".

Can crypto-currencies be programmed to automatically burn all coins in wallets that have been inactive for more than 100 years?

They can, but I wouldn't use one like that.  It won't happen with bitcoin.
legendary
Activity: 3192
Merit: 1213
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Active supply in the bitcoin truly gets affected, but in accordance to the number of bitcoin generated the price variation happens. Because though a big portion gets hold in wallets without use for a long time too, it gets counted to the mined coins. Based upon this ratio the supply gets changed. This won't make users stop thinking of bitcoin.
legendary
Activity: 1904
Merit: 1073
We have progressed to far for this to happen... people still collect vintage cars and old coins, which has not been in circulation for many

years. Bitcoins can be passed on to other people through generations, so we are not worried that this will not be continued.... long after

we are gone. The Bitcoin protocol generate bitcoins, even if only one person is mining.  Wink
full member
Activity: 324
Merit: 101
Latest wallet: v2.1.1/v2.1.3
I suspect that when our generation of Bitcoin holders dies, a lot of us will not have left information for our heirs to access our wallets. If so, then most of the Bitcoin supply will eventually become inactive as most wallets containing Bitcoin will belong to people who are deceased. As mining will eventually finish as well, there will be no way to generate new bitcoins. The TOTAL supply and market cap will look the same on paper but, in reality, the ACTIVE supply and market cap will be a lot less due to these inactive wallets. Eventually, as the active supply falls, the price should rise but it will not reflect the total supply just the active supply.

After all Bitcoins are generated, do you agree that the ACTIVE supply will eventually fall and is there a way to stop it?

In the long run, if 50% of Bitcoin’s total supply becomes inactive will people still want to use it?

Is there a way to measure active supply?

Can crypto-currencies be programmed to automatically burn all coins in wallets that have been inactive for more than 100 years?
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