Bitcoin's Controlled Supply

Bitcoin's true maximum supply is 20,999,999.9769 BTC, reached through 33 halvings every 210,000 blocks until new issuance stops entirely around 2140. As of August 2026, about 20.07 million BTC (roughly 95.6% of the cap) have been mined; the article also covers lost coins that shrink the effective supply and the debated shift to a fee-only economy once rewards end.