Bitcoin Halving Cuts Issuance, Spikes Then Normalizes Miner Revenues

Bitcoin has undergone its latest halving event, reducing the block reward from 6.26 to 3.125

, which cuts the daily issuance of Bitcoin to 450 BTC. This significant reduction in supply is a scheduled part of Bitcoin’s deflationary monetary policy, designed to curb inflation by halving block rewards approximately every four years.

The spike in transaction fees was short-lived. As the hype around RUNES protocol settled, fees normalized, bringing miner revenues down to about $50M. pic.twitter.com/pxd5ylob7X

— CryptoQuant.com (@cryptoquant_com) April 25, 2024

Following the halving, Bitcoin miners initially saw a dramatic increase in their revenues, reaching up to $100 million on the first day. This spike was primarily fueled by elevated transaction fees generated by a surge in activity on the RUNES protocol. This newer blockchain platform saw substantial transaction volumes during this period.

However, the increased miner earnings were short-lived. As the excitement around the RUNES protocol began to fade, transaction fees normalized, leading to a significant drop in miners’ daily revenues. This normalization was also influenced by a decline in the floor price of RUNES, indicating a reduction in market interest.

Impact on Miner Profitability

Despite a high network hash rate, which remained stable at 617 exahashes per second (EH/s), the profitability for miners has been compromised. The lower transaction fees combined with the reduced block reward have driven the price to its lowest point since October 2023, presenting ongoing profitability challenges for miners. This has set a new norm for lower daily revenues since the halving benefits through increased fees quickly dissipated.

Miners are now facing a new economic environment where they must adapt to lower earnings and potentially reconsider the sustainability of their operations under current conditions. The industry may see shifts in mining strategies or technological advancements aimed at maintaining profitability despite these challenges.

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