Is the number of Bitcoins, not to exceed 21 million?
When browsing the net, one can read 'The number of bitcoins generated per block is set to decrease geometrically, with a 50% reduction every 210,000 blocks, or approximately four years. The result is that the number of bitcoins in existence is not expected to exceed 21 million.' at https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Controlled_supply
But, now, what is the limit to the kind of forks we see happening right now?
If every lets say 10 years, we have a new User Activated or other fork that creates a new version of Bitcoin (and in the process may make the previous version obsolete), then what does the 21 million limit really mean?
Just some questions to think of when talking/discussing the real 'scarcity'.
In the meantime, think of which other assets can't just be 'forked out of existence'?
Namaste,
K
Bitcoins will always work similar to gold, and their forked counterparts similar to gold backed equities.
Thanks for your reaction Rob. What I am trying to find out is 'What will happen if Version 1, with a 21 million limit, becomes obsolete because of a new version Version 2, with a 42 million limit and other compromises, then a Version 3 with again more compromises and maybe a 63 million limit of issued tokens? I don't know, but maybe someone can explain that this is not a valid concern, then we can all sleep better ;-)