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Is active bitcoin supply decreasing? An empirical analysis

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  • Matthew Ambrosia

    (Catholic University of Pusan)

  • John Dorrell

    (University of Tampa)

  • Thomas Stockwell

    (University of Tampa)

Abstract

This paper empirically determines if the active supply of Bitcoin is decreasing. Active Bitcoin is the total Bitcoin that has been mined, minus the Bitcoin that has been “lost”. Bitcoin has a fixed supply limit of 21 million. New Bitcoins are constantly being added to the existing supply through a process called mining. This rate of supply is cut in half every four years. However, many Bitcoins have been “lost” and are no longer accessible. The amount of lost Bitcoins is constantly increasing, reducing the amount of supply that is still “active” and accessible. If the rate of loss ever becomes greater than the rate of supply, then active Bitcoin supply would begin to decrease. From this inflection point, the Bitcoin supply would decline from that date forward. Meaning the amount available to be traded would begin to decrease. We utilize comprehensive on-chain data to analyze Bitcoin movement between wallet addresses and determine which coins are active and which coins are “lost”. Bitcoins in dormant wallets are assigned a probability of loss based on the number of years of inactivity and historical probabilities of movement after periods of extreme inactivity. This research helps to quantify the actual amount of Bitcoin that is active and accessible to be spent and traded, which has a profound impact on valuation. The results of this research show that the active supply of Bitcoin turned negative at the halving on April 19th, 2024.

Suggested Citation

  • Matthew Ambrosia & John Dorrell & Thomas Stockwell, 2024. "Is active bitcoin supply decreasing? An empirical analysis," Journal of Economics and Finance, Springer;Academy of Economics and Finance, vol. 48(4), pages 1166-1186, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jecfin:v:48:y:2024:i:4:d:10.1007_s12197-024-09691-w
    DOI: 10.1007/s12197-024-09691-w
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    JEL classification:

    • E40 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - General
    • E42 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Monetary Sytsems; Standards; Regimes; Government and the Monetary System
    • E59 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Other

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