In mid 2016, the block reward will undergo its second halving, from 25 BTC per block, to 12.5.

This means that miners get half as much bitcoin as before.  The bitcoin inflation rate will be half as much as before.


When this occurs, some combination of these two things MUST occur:
* Some miners who are now unprofitable turn off their miners, reducing difficulty and helping other miners survive.
* Bitcoin price increases (due to lower inflation, etc), making miners more profitable again.


We already had one halving, in late 2012.  It helped to catalyze the 2013 bull market.  (It was just one factor, of course.  It would be silly to say it was the whole reason for the rise).

2016 is Apocalyptic: End of Time or Return of Jesus?

Quote from: ocelot357 on December 03, 2014, 06:49:54 AM

Quote from: Riverhead on December 03, 2014, 04:21:49 AM
The big industrial miners are playing a big game of chicken. Waiting to see who will blink first and unload their hardware before the August 2016 halving. I guess some blink with a big fireball and insurance cheque.

Can you tell me more about the 2016 halving? I'm still very new to crypto.  :-\

Not much to tell. The miners bread and butter is finding blocks and selling the reward. In August 2016 that reward gets cut in half. An industry on already thin margins has its revenue chopped in half.

Sent from my Timex Sinclair.

Quote from: Riverhead on December 03, 2014, 04:21:49 AM
The big industrial miners are playing a big game of chicken. Waiting to see who will blink first and unload their hardware before the August 2016 halving. I guess some blink with a big fireball and insurance cheque.

Can you tell me more about the 2016 halving? I'm still very new to crypto.  :-\

The big industrial miners are playing a big game of chicken. Waiting to see who will blink first and unload their hardware before the August 2016 halving. I guess some blink with a big fireball and insurance cheque.

Probably a momentum for the next catapult.

Quote from: Ander on December 03, 2014, 02:11:53 AM

Quote from: Chuckone on December 03, 2014, 01:51:34 AM
I'm curious to know the logic linking lowering difficulty and end of the bear market?

If bitcoins are overvalued, it is better to sell bitcoins (or hold off on buying them), and instead buy mining equipment.  The result is that investment money flows into mining, not bitcoin.  This contributes to the end of the bull/start of the bear.

If bitcoins are undervalued, it is better to buy bitcoins directly, rather than buy mining equipment that will be unprofitable.  The result is that investment money flows into directly buying bitcoins, helping to end the bear/start the bull.

Got it!

thanks for the clear and concise answer, it really makes sense.

Quote from: Chuckone on December 03, 2014, 01:51:34 AM
I'm curious to know the logic linking lowering difficulty and end of the bear market?

If bitcoins are overvalued, it is better to sell bitcoins (or hold off on buying them), and instead buy mining equipment.  The result is that investment money flows into mining, not bitcoin.  This contributes to the end of the bull/start of the bear.

If bitcoins are undervalued, it is better to buy bitcoins directly, rather than buy mining equipment that will be unprofitable.  The result is that investment money flows into directly buying bitcoins, helping to end the bear/start the bull.

Quote from: Riverhead on December 03, 2014, 01:51:57 AM
Think it has anything to do with that fire back in early November?

Probably not much.  It mostly has to do with the price being low and electricity costs being high at this level of difficulty.

Think it has anything to do with that fire back in early November?

Quote from: Ander on December 03, 2014, 01:47:27 AM
It hasnt gone down since January 2013.  It just had a less than 1% decrease.

The only period in bitcoin's history where the difficulty had some decreases was during the 2011-2012 bear market phase, where it was very undervalued.

This might be a good sign for crypto's in general, as it could be a sign of the end of the crypto bear market.

I'm curious to know the logic linking lowering difficulty and end of the bear market?

It hasnt gone down since January 2013.  It just had a less than 1% decrease.

The only period in bitcoin's history where the difficulty had some decreases was during the 2011-2012 bear market phase, where it was very undervalued.

This might be a good sign for crypto's in general, as it could be a sign of the end of the crypto bear market.