The first halving sliced off the first 50% of the Bitcoin mining reward â from 50 to 25 Bitcoins per block. Back then, the impact of the halving was still not priced in. The community was watching anxiously, as the closing price on the halving day was ($12.20). In the months after the first halving in 2012, the network hash rate and difficulty declined as less profitable miners turned off machines to reduce costs.
However, by early 2013, Bitcoin kicked off its first major bull run, surging from $13 to over $1,000 by year's end. The fears of miner capitulations were proven largely unfounded. The network hummed along, and the Bitcoin community learned an early lesson: Halvings are bullish for the Bitcoin network and the price of Bitcoin.
The second halving reduced the block reward by another 50% â from 25 to 12.5 BTC. The community anticipated another bull run driven by the halving, as the memories of 2012 were still fresh. Many predicted a price boom. But some also warned that a smaller mining reward could depress mining profits and harm the network. We all know what happened nextâĶ
Bitcoin had an incredible bull run in 2017. Its price went up to nearly $20,000 by the end of the year, and this was the first time cryptocurrencies were in the global limelight. That set the stage for an even bigger bull run four years down the roadâĶ
The third halving halved the mining reward again. So predictable, yet so ground-breaking. With the mining reward slashed to 6.25 BTC per block, Bitcoin was getting ready for another bull run. Speculation abounded about growing institutional adoption and Bitcoin as a hedge for inflation.Â
After the halving, the price of Bitcoin surged once again. The community was ready by this time â they had learned the lesson already. Halving day was eagerly anticipated but the real celebrations did not kick off until the incredible bull run in 2021. Many anticipate history will repeat itself in 2024.
The next halving, who wouldâve guessed it, will reduce the mining reward again â to 3.125 BTC per block. The Bitcoin community is eagerly anticipating this milestone. It will make Bitcoinâs supply even scarcer and, hopefully, introduce a new bull market.
Bitcoinâs built-in halvings stand out as a unique feature that adds predictable control over its supply issuance. Other cryptocurrencies have tried to copy its model, but no other blockchain has had the same success with halvings and inflation reductions as Bitcoin.
Of course, some critics have argued that halvings are unnecessary, and Bitcoinâs supply could have simply been capped at 21 million with all units released immediately. Â But Satoshi wisely recognized the importance of gradual, rule-based issuance and its role in increasing adoption and fairness. Bitcoin would not be where it is today without halvings.
Halvings also forge links between each generation of Bitcoin users. Those who participated in 2012âs first halving have watched the community grow and pass new milestones. And those who joined post-2020 look to earlier halvings for context on Bitcoinâs roots. Halvings remind the community of how far we've come, and where we have yet to go.