Bitcoin under pressure: BlackRock’s disclaimer questions the 21 million coin limit

The disclaimer of BlackRock raises doubts about the supply limit of Bitcoin, provoking mixed reactions in the crypto community. The implications for scarcity, network security, and investor trust are at the center of the debate.

Let’s see all the details in this article. 

Is Bitcoin’s supply cap truly immutable? BlackRock’s disclaimer fuels the debate on the future of crypto 

On December 17, 2024, BlackRock, the largest fund manager in the world, sparked a heated debate in the cryptocurrency sector. In an official video, the company stated that there is no guarantee that the 21 million Bitcoin cap will remain unchanged.

This statement has raised concerns about the fundamental value of the cryptocurrency most famous in the world, causing volatility in the market and sparking the debate about its scarcity.

Technically, the supply limit of Bitcoin could be modified through a hard fork, an update that would require widespread consensus among all network participants. 

However, as highlighted by Super Testnet, creator of BitVM and Bitcoin expert, such a change would alter the very nature of Bitcoin:

“The inflation limit is a definition of Bitcoin. Without it, what remains would no longer be Bitcoin.”

This point of view has been reiterated by the community, which has highlighted how the limit of 21 million represents one of the fundamental principles of Bitcoin, ensuring its scarcity and its value over time.

The debate on the supply limit has profound implications also for Bitcoin miners. Currently, the block reward is 3.125 BTC, but this figure will halve to 1.625 BTC in 2028 due to the halving mechanism.

This economic model raises questions about how to maintain network security when rewards decrease, unless prices or transaction fees increase significantly.

The main concern is that a less incentivized network could become more vulnerable to attacks, compromising the trust of investors and users.

Contrasting reactions in the community

The statements from BlackRock have divided the crypto community. Some, like Joel Valenzuela, marketing manager of Dashpay, consider a change in the supply cap unlikely. 

Others, like the Ethereum programmer Antiprosynthesis, have suggested that BlackRock understands Bitcoin better than its own supporters.

This contrast of opinions has fueled greater volatility in the market, with Bitcoin prices experiencing significant swings after the announcement.

The debate on the supply limit brings to mind the Blocksize Wars of 2016-2017, a period in which the Bitcoin community successfully resisted attempts to increase the block size. 

Even though 95% of the miners were in favor of the change, the proposal was not approved, demonstrating the strength of consensus in the Bitcoin network.

This historical resistance highlights how difficult it is to make significant changes to Bitcoin without unanimous support from the community.

Future Implications

According to Super Testnet, any attempt to modify the Bitcoin supply limit would require a broad consensus among all stakeholders, including developers, miners, node operators, and investors. 

This decentralized governance system has been designed to protect Bitcoin from external influences, including those from large companies like BlackRock.

However, the debate raised by BlackRock’s disclaimer highlights a broader issue: the growing influence of traditional institutions in the world of cryptocurrencies.

While on one hand this influence could lead to greater adoption, on the other it raises questions about the future of decentralization and the independence of blockchain networks.