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?
If we talk about mining in terms of bitcoin mining, then one day it will stop when the last of the 21000000
BTC is mined.
If we talk about mining in terms of transaction confirmation after the above event, then mining will continue. But if it stops, then it will mean the "
death" of bitcoin, because if no one confirms transactions, then these transactions will become impossible and will lead to the "stop" of the
BTC-network.
If mining becomes expensive, then this only means that bitcoin will become very expensive. This system is self-regulating due to the hash rate: if mining becomes expensive, then some miners will stop doing it, which in turn will lead to a decrease in the hash rate, which in turn will make mining profitable again and miners will return.