Quick answer
A Bitcoin halving is a scheduled reduction in the new BTC subsidy paid per mined block.
What is Bitcoin halving?
A Bitcoin halving cuts the block subsidy in half after another 210,000 blocks are added. It changes the rate of new issuance; it does not promise a price move or guarantee that mining remains profitable.
The useful way to approach this term is to separate its definition from the assumptions people often attach to it. In crypto, the same word can appear in a protocol rule, a user interface, a market-data label, or a marketing claim. Check which layer the explanation is describing.
Why does bitcoin halving matter?
Halvings make Bitcoin’s issuance schedule easier to audit and help readers separate protocol mechanics from market commentary. The target block is precise, while the calendar date is only an estimate because block times vary.
Concrete example
See it in a real situation
At block 840,000 in April 2024, the subsidy moved from 6.25 BTC to 3.125 BTC. The next scheduled target is block 1,050,000, where the subsidy is expected to become 1.5625 BTC.
Common misconceptions
What this term does not mean
- A halving does not delete coins already recorded on the network.
- A countdown to a block is not a forecast of Bitcoin’s future price.
Related terms
Sources and further reading
Definitions are written for education and checked against the sources below where relevant. A source can explain a protocol or rule without endorsing every product built around it.