What happens if bitcoin mining stops or becomes too expensive? Is that within the realm of possibility? Are there mitigating factors, probably the adoption of renewable energy?
Mining isn't going to be expensive but cost of running a mining farm due to high cost of electricity and cost of new model ASIC machines that can mine a block faster due to the increase in difficulty target as more miners gets on board. The last bitcoin will be mined in the year 2140, and I don't think that any of us will be alive by then to witness it. If cost of electricity is very expensive, miners will move to a country with cheaper electricity to carry out their mining operations.