<p>Bitcoin controls the supply of coins by halving the miner subsidy (reward) every 210,000 blocks or roughly every 4 years. The miner subsidy started at 50BTC. See <a href="https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Mining#Reward" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Mining Reward</a>.</p>

<p>This is a simple chart that illustrates the Bitcoin distribution schedule:</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/XjwWL.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/XjwWL.png" alt="Bitcoin Distribution"></a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-26T20:08:15.693Z
It's worth noting that the long tail is very long, but the subsidy is almost zero for the majority of it.
Claris
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-11-26T18:41:34.777Z
2018-11-26T20:11:50.793Z
2018-11-26T20:11:50.793Z
JBaczuk
<p>I saw in an article something about a Bitcoin algorithm half in 2020. What exactly is this? I have tried looking this up but I couldn't find anything that told me what it was only a <a href="https://bitcoinblockhalf.com/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">website counting down to the next</a>.</p>

<terminology><reward-schedule>
What is a "half" in Bitcoin?
Bill Gates
# What is a "half" in Bitcoin?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-11-26)

I saw in an article something about a Bitcoin algorithm half in 2020. What exactly is this? I have tried looking this up but I couldn't find anything that told me what it was only a [website counting down to the next](https://bitcoinblockhalf.com/).

**Tags:** terminology, reward-schedule


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-11-26. Score: 1

Bitcoin controls the supply of coins by halving the miner subsidy (reward) every 210,000 blocks or roughly every 4 years. The miner subsidy started at 50BTC. See [Mining Reward](https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Mining#Reward).

This is a simple chart that illustrates the Bitcoin distribution schedule:

[![Bitcoin Distribution](https://i.sstatic.net/XjwWL.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/XjwWL.png)

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: It's worth noting that the long tail is very long, but the subsidy is almost zero for the majority of it.  

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