Bitcoin Halving History

The mining reward started at 50 BTC per block when Bitcoin was released in 2009. Since then, there have been three halvings. The first Bitcoin halving occurred in November 2012, reducing the mining reward from 50 to 25 BTC. The second halving in July 2016 cut it further to 12.5 BTC. In the third halving in May 2020, the reward was again halved to 6.25 BTC per block. These halvings are integral to Bitcoin's scarcity and inflation control, ensuring that the total supply will never exceed 21 million, aligning with its deflationary principles.