Every ten minutes 3.125 new bitcoins are added to the supply. The amount is determined by a schedule that started with 50 new bitcoins every ten minutes. Every four years, the amount is cut in half.
| Year | New coins every 10 minutes | Total Supply |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 50 | 0 |
| 2012 | 25 | 10,500,000 |
| 2016 | 12.5 | 15,750,000 |
| 2020 | 6.25 | 18,375,000 |
| 2024 | 3.125 | 19,687,500 |
| 2028 | 1.5625 | 20,343,750 |
| 2032 | 0.78125 | 20,671,875 |
| 2036 | 0.390625 | 20,835,937 |
| 2040 | 0.1953125 | 20,917,968 |
| ~~~~~~~~~~ | ~~~~~~~~ | ~~~~~~~ |
| 2136 | 0.00000001 | 20,999,999.9748 |
| 2140 | 0 | 20999999.9769 |
Since bitcoin is an open system, anyone can look at what addresses have bitcoin but you do not know who the owner is unless they have publicly disclosed it.
Below is a breakdown of how many addresses hold a range of bitcoin. Each address does not mean a separate person. There is no way to know how many individual users participate. When you buy bitcoin, the amount you buy is not reflected in one of these addresses. The exchange or brokerage will allocate bitcoin that someone else sold to you or will later buy bitcoin to back the purchase you made.
If you decide to take bitcoin into self-custody, you will provide an address for that bitcoin to be sent to. Then, your address will be reflected in the above website based on the amount.
In part 4 we will discuss the ten minute and four-year time frames
