Bitcoin halving countdown
At block 1,050,000 the reward for mining a Bitcoin block halves from 3.125 to 1.5625 BTC — the fifth halving in Bitcoin's fixed supply schedule. The countdown below tracks the live block height, so the estimate sharpens as the block approaches.
Estimated time to halving
≈ 13 April 2028
960,268
current block height ● live
89,732
blocks to go
1.5625 BTC
new reward per block
Every halving so far
| Halving | Date | Block | Reward before | Reward after |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 29 Nov 2012 | 210,000 | 50 BTC | 25 BTC |
| 2nd | 10 Jul 2016 | 420,000 | 25 BTC | 12.5 BTC |
| 3rd | 12 May 2020 | 630,000 | 12.5 BTC | 6.25 BTC |
| 4th | 20 Apr 2024 | 840,000 | 6.25 BTC | 3.125 BTC |
| 5thnext | ~April 2028 | 1,050,000 | 3.125 BTC | 1.5625 BTC |
Why the halving exists
Bitcoin's supply is capped at 21 million, and the halving is the mechanism that delivers it: issuance drops geometrically every 210,000 blocks, so over 95% of all Bitcoin already exists. Scarcity isn't a promise from a company — it's a rule every node on the network enforces.
Watching from Australia
Nothing about the halving requires action from holders — your coins, wallet and tax obligations are unchanged. If volatility around the event tempts you to trade, know what a trade really costs first, and remember disposals within 12 months forfeit the CGT discount.
FAQ
What exactly is the Bitcoin halving?
Every 210,000 blocks — roughly four years — the reward paid to miners for each new block is cut in half. It's how Bitcoin's fixed 21-million supply schedule is enforced in code: issuance keeps shrinking until the last fraction of a coin is mined around 2140. The 2028 halving cuts the reward from 3.125 BTC to 1.5625 BTC per block.
Why isn't the date exact?
The halving happens at a block height, not a date. Blocks arrive every ~10 minutes on average but the exact pace varies with mining power, so the calendar date drifts. Our countdown re-estimates from the live block height — expect the estimate to sharpen as the block approaches.
Does the halving make the price go up?
Not automatically. Past halvings preceded major bull runs, but with each cycle the new supply affected is smaller and markets increasingly price the event in ahead of time — and past performance isn't a predictor. Treat "halving = pump" as a hypothesis the market keeps testing, not a law.
Does the halving change anything for ordinary holders?
Nothing about your existing coins changes — balances, keys and transactions all work exactly the same. The effect is on miners, whose block revenue halves overnight, and on the market's long-run supply expectations.
The countdown is an estimate based on average block times and will drift as mining power changes. General information, not financial advice.