Halving
mining · event
A scheduled reduction in block subsidy that cuts new coin issuance, often by half, at predetermined block heights.
- Also known as
- halvening
A halving is a consensus rule that reduces the block subsidy at set intervals, usually cutting it by 50%. It lowers the rate of new coin creation without requiring a central issuer or discretionary policy decision.
Halvings create a predictable disinflationary issuance schedule. They do not guarantee price increases; market outcomes depend on demand, miner behavior, fees, liquidity, and broader conditions.
Halving timing is based on block height, not calendar dates. Because blocks arrive probabilistically, countdown dates are estimates derived from recent block production rates.
Related terms
Mining Difficulty
→Mining difficulty measures how hard it is to find a valid proof-of-work block and adjusts to keep average block times near target.
mining · security · blockchain
Difficulty Adjustment Algorithm (DAA)
→A DAA is the consensus rule that recalibrates mining difficulty so average block time stays near target as hash rate changes.
mining · consensus · blockchain
Hash rate
→The number of proof-of-work hash attempts performed per second by mining hardware or an entire network.
mining · security
Emission Schedule
→An emission schedule defines when and how quickly new coins or tokens enter circulation.
economics · mining