If you’ve ever wondered how many bitcoins are there in the world, you’re not alone. Bitcoin’s fixed supply and scarcity make this question important for investors, crypto users, and anyone curious about digital money.
Bitcoin is a type of cryptocurrency that operates on a network of computers without a central authority. Its supply is fixed by design. Unlike money printed by governments, Bitcoin will never have more than a certain number of coins.
That’s why people often ask: how many bitcoins are there in the world now? and how many will ever exist? In this guide, we’ll answer those questions clearly and simply.
The Total Limit of Bitcoin
The total number of bitcoins that will ever exist is fixed at 21 million coins. This number was set by Bitcoin’s creator, known only by the name Satoshi Nakamoto, when Bitcoin was launched in 2009.
The Bitcoin software includes this limit, and it cannot be changed unless almost all participants in the Bitcoin network agree something considered extremely unlikely.
So when people ask how many bitcoins are there in the world, the most important part of the answer is this: There will never be more than 21 million bitcoins.
This fixed cap is one of the defining features of Bitcoin and makes it different from traditional money.
How Many Bitcoins Are There In The World
So, how many bitcoins are there in the world at this moment? The answer changes over time as new bitcoins are mined roughly every 10 minutes.
As of late 2025, about 19.9 million bitcoins have already been mined out of the total 21 million possible. This means about 95% of all bitcoins that will ever exist are already in existence.
This number grows slowly because new bitcoins are created through a predictable process called mining, which we’ll explain shortly.
In simple words Approximately 19.9 million bitcoins have been mined, leaving about 1.1 million still to be mined. With a fixed maximum supply of 21 million coins, only a small portion remains to enter circulation..
So when people want to know how many bitcoins are there in the world today, the answer is nearly 20 million but the exact number rises gradually as miners add new coins.
What Is the Circulating Supply?
When discussing how many bitcoins are there in the world, it’s helpful to understand the term circulating supply.
Circulating supply refers to all bitcoins that have been mined and are available for use, trade, or storage. It does not count coins that may be lost forever or coins that will be mined in the future.
Right now, the circulating supply is essentially the same as the total mined amount around 19.9 million bitcoins. As mining continues bit by bit, the circulating supply slowly inches closer to the final number.
How Does Bitcoin Mining Work?
Bitcoin mining is the process by which new bitcoins are added to the system. Miners use powerful computers to solve complex math problems.
When one of these problems is solved, a new group of transactions (a block) is added to the Bitcoin ledger (called the blockchain), and the miner is rewarded with new bitcoins.
Each time a block is added, a fixed number of bitcoins is awarded to the miner. The reward began at 50 bitcoins per block in 2009 and has been halved roughly every four years through events called halvings.
Today, after the most recent halving in 2024, miners earn about 3.125 bitcoins per block. This means the number of new bitcoins entering the world is smaller than before.
That slow pace is one reason the total supply is gradually approaching the limit but has not yet reached it.
Understanding Bitcoin mining helps explain why how many bitcoins are there in the world increases slowly over time and why it will take many years to reach the full 21 million.
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How Long Until All Bitcoin Is Mined?
Because mining rewards get smaller over time, new bitcoins are created more and more slowly. This makes how many bitcoins are there in the world an evolving number that will continue to change for years.
Current estimates suggest the final bitcoin will not be mined until around the year 2140.
That means over the next century, miners will gradually add the remaining ~1.1 million bitcoins to reach the total of 21 million.
Since miners are paid in both block rewards and transaction fees, mining will likely continue even after all bitcoins are mined.
But once the 21 million limit is reached, no new bitcoins will be created.
Are All 19.9 Million Bitcoins Accessible?
When we answer how many bitcoins are there in the world, the number often refers to coins that have been mined and exist on the blockchain. However, not all of these are accessible.
Many bitcoins are believed to be permanently lost. This could happen if someone loses their private keys (the secret passwords needed to access wallets) or discards data containing bitcoin access.
Some sources estimate that 2–4 million bitcoins may be lost forever
This means that while nearly 19.9 million bitcoins have been created, the number actually available for use or trading might be somewhat lower.
Still, when people ask how many bitcoins are there in the world, they usually mean the total that has ever been mined even if some may no longer be accessible.
What Happens After Bitcoin Reaches 21 Million?
Once the Bitcoin network reaches the maximum of 21 million coins, no more new bitcoins will be created.
Miners will still play an important role, but they will earn money mostly through transaction fees paid by users to get their transactions included in blocks.
This transition is a big part of how many bitcoins are there in the world because it means supply growth ends entirely.
After that point, the circulating supply will stay the same, even if some bitcoins are lost or stolen.
In economic terms, Bitcoin’s supply becomes fixed permanently once that last bitcoin is mined. That’s one reason Bitcoin’s scarcity is often compared to precious metals like gold.
Why Does Supply Matter?
Understanding how many bitcoins exist matters for several reasons. Bitcoin’s limited supply creates scarcity, which can influence its value as demand grows.
The fixed cap of 21 million coins also strengthens market confidence by providing a predictable monetary policy.
Investors pay close attention to supply trends when evaluating Bitcoin’s long-term potential, while miners and developers consider how shrinking block rewards will shift the network’s reliance toward transaction fees for security.
Altogether, these factors show why Bitcoin’s total supply is significant beyond being just a number.
Conclusion
So, how many bitcoins are there in the world right now?
Today, the Bitcoin network has nearly 20 million bitcoins in existence, approaching its hard limit of 21 million.
This number steadily grows through mining, but at a slowing pace due to pre-set rules in the software.
Around the later part of this century, the final bitcoins will be released into the system, after which the circulating supply won’t grow anymore.
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced crypto user, knowing how many bitcoins are there in the world helps you understand Bitcoin’s value and scarcity.
It’s a fundamental part of Bitcoin’s design and a big reason why people continue to pay attention to it even years after its creation.
Remember, how many bitcoins are there in the world today is not a fixed number forever. But thanks to Bitcoin’s transparent and predictable system, we can watch it grow in real time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many bitcoins are there in the world right now?
As of now, there are about 19.9 million bitcoins in existence. This number increases slowly as miners create new bitcoins every few minutes. When people ask how many bitcoins are there in the world, this current mined total is the main number they refer to.
How many bitcoins are left to mine?
Out of the 21 million total possible coins, about 1.1 million bitcoins are left to be mined. This remaining amount will be mined slowly over the next century.
Will we ever reach the full 21 million bitcoins?
Yes, but not soon. The full supply will likely be mined by the year 2140. Even though most bitcoins already exist, mining slows down over time, so the last part takes the longest.
How many bitcoins are lost forever?
Experts estimate that 2–4 million bitcoins may be lost because people misplaced their wallet keys or lost access to old devices. This affects the practical answer to how many bitcoins are there in the world, because not all existing bitcoins can actually be used.
Who owns the most bitcoins in the world?
Some of the largest holders include early Bitcoin users, long-term investors, and exchanges that store coins on behalf of their users. The creator of Bitcoin, known as Satoshi Nakamoto, is believed to have around 1 million bitcoins, though these coins have not moved for many years.
Can the Bitcoin limit of 21 million ever be increased?
Technically it’s possible, but practically it’s almost impossible. Changing the supply would require nearly everyone in the Bitcoin network to agree. Because users value Bitcoin’s limited supply, increasing it is extremely unlikely.
What happens when all bitcoins are mined?
When the 21 million limit is reached, no more new bitcoins will be created. Miners will continue to earn money through transaction fees instead of block rewards.