Post
Topic
Board Economics
Re: Bitcoin capitalization eventually hit 0?
by
ascent
on 01/07/2011, 17:31:57 UTC
It is infinitly divisible (up to 8 decimal places right now, easily expandable with a modification of the client); so even if at one point there is only a total of 1BTC circulating in the whole world that will still  be more than enough
There are issues with that scenario that I have pointed out in other threads, but others don't seem to agree with me. Assuming the scenario you have illustrated, you must agree that it is possible that 100, or even 1,000 Bitcoins could be rediscovered, thus the World's economy, which was thriving on 1 Bitcoin, has now undergone 100 or even 1,000 fold inflation overnight if the Bitcoins are dumped on the market.

However, that isn't so bad, since everything is relative. But assume there are a few other currencies as well, and real wealth, which many don't have. Then those who did have most of their wealth tied up into Bitcoins would be wiped out.

Such a situation cannot arise right now, because it is impossible for 100, or 1,000 times the number of Bitcoins currently in circulation to enter the market.