Why Bitcoin’s Fixed Supply Schedule Is Hard to Change
bitcoin’s fixed supply is enforced by consensus rules embedded in node software. Changing it would demand near-unanimous agreement, risking chain splits and loss of network trust.
How Many Bitcoins Exist? Only 21 Million Ever
bitcoin’s protocol caps supply at 21 million coins. New bitcoins are released through mining and halvings; about 19.3 million exist today, with the final units to be mined around 2140.