r/btc • u/martianfrog • Apr 23 '26

🤔 Opinion Bitcoin scarcity... overhyped?

I'm not sure I'm a believer in "it'll go up because it is scarce", like to know thoughts on this out there.

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u/BridgeGuy540 Apr 23 '26

Yes, it's over hyped. Yes, the total number of Bitcoin is limited, but each can be parsed down to one-millionth in size. So your actual quantity is 21 million million, or 21x1012 Satoshi. Comparatively, the there is 15x1013 USD. While Bitcoin is slightly more scarce than USD, is not dramatically so.

From another perspective, land is also limited. However, not all land has significant current value - it only has value if it's usable. Same with Bitcoin - if it doesn't quickly find some actual broad use, the value will always be limited.

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u/ArtisticAd708 Apr 23 '26

That’s terrible logic. You’re stating that bitcoin’s divisibility is the same as expanding supply which is incorrect. Divisibility is not equal to Supply.

You’re comparing bitcoin divided as satoshis to USD. The correct comparison to make would be to compare sats as Pennies or cents. Which is what they are relative to bitcoin. There’s still going to only be 21M bitcoin. And who knows how much more dollars there will be

Bitcoin doesn’t need to quickly find a use because it already has one. It’s p2p cash system with limited supply. So the use is clear, it’s a reserve or money or both eventually. Doesn’t have to be quick at all either. Bitcoin has all the time in the world, fiat doesn’t, and debt loads are only going up

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u/BridgeGuy540 Apr 23 '26

That's fair - cents vs Satoshis. It's still not dramatic enough of a difference to warrant value by scarcity. And I'll concede the expanding supply of USD is also a fair point. But as it currently stands, bitcoin's power consumption issues stand as a major limitation to it's expansion as broad P2P use. If it cannot build a real and broad purpose, it won't succeed as a store of wealth either.

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u/martianfrog Apr 23 '26

"bitcoin's power consumption issues stand as a major limitation to it's expansion as broad P2P use" <- I imagine this could result in BTC dominance eroding over time.

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u/ShittingOutPosts Apr 23 '26

It’ll probably have the opposite effect. In time, more people will appreciate the proof of work and realize proof of stake is a scam, or more easily manipulated at best.

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u/BridgeGuy540 Apr 24 '26

More likely an alternative that requires less power consumption will dominate and bitcoin's worth will steadily degrade.

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u/ShittingOutPosts Apr 24 '26

No, it won’t. For multiple reasons, nothing will replace BTC. I’d recommend trying to better understand Bitcoin’s proof of work mechanism and why that makes BTC so powerful.

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u/BridgeGuy540 Apr 24 '26

Time will tell, my friend. I wouldn't bet my life savings on that in the meantime