Next Bitcoin Halving (2028): Date, Countdown & What It Means
When is the next Bitcoin halving? Expected around April 2028 at block 1,050,000. The date, a live countdown, every past halving, and what it means for crypto businesses.
Quick answer: The next Bitcoin halving is expected around April 2028, when the network reaches block 1,050,000. At that point, the reward miners get for each new block will drop from 3.125 BTC to 1.5625 BTC. The exact date depends on how fast blocks are mined. Follow it live on our Bitcoin halving countdown.
What is the Bitcoin halving?
The Bitcoin halving is a built-in event that cuts the reward for mining new blocks in half. It happens automatically every 210,000 blocks, which works out to roughly every four years.
It's how Bitcoin controls its supply. New bitcoin enter circulation only through mining rewards, so each halving slows how fast new coins are created. The total supply is capped at 21 million bitcoin.
When is the next Bitcoin halving?
The fifth halving will happen at block 1,050,000. Bitcoin aims for one block about every 10 minutes, so trackers currently estimate it for around April 2028.
The date moves a little as mining speed changes: more mining power means blocks come faster and the date gets earlier. For the up-to-the-minute estimate, see our live Bitcoin halving countdown.
Every Bitcoin halving so far
| Halving | Date | Block | Reward per block |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Nov 28, 2012 | 210,000 | 50 → 25 BTC |
| 2nd | Jul 9, 2016 | 420,000 | 25 → 12.5 BTC |
| 3rd | May 11, 2020 | 630,000 | 12.5 → 6.25 BTC |
| 4th | April 2024 | 840,000 | 6.25 → 3.125 BTC |
| 5th (next) | ~April 2028 | 1,050,000 | 3.125 → 1.5625 BTC |
What happens when Bitcoin halves?
- Miners earn less per block.
Their reward halves overnight, so less efficient miners may be squeezed out. - New supply slows.
Fewer new bitcoin are created each day. - Attention spikes.
Halvings get heavy media coverage, so more people buy, sell and move crypto around them.
Past halvings have been followed by big price moves, but past cycles don't guarantee future results.
Nobody can reliably predict the price.
When will the last Bitcoin halving happen?
Halvings continue until all 21 million bitcoin have been mined, which is expected around the year 2140. After that, miners will earn only transaction fees.
What the halving means for crypto businesses
For exchanges, wallets, crypto ATMs and other virtual asset service providers, halving season usually means more new users, more transactions and more scams. It's a good moment to check your compliance:
- Monitoring capacity: can your alerts and team handle a sudden spike in volume?
- KYC at onboarding: verify new users before they trade, even when sign-ups surge.
- Large transactions: in Canada, crypto received in amounts of $10,000 or more must be reported to FINTRAC (LVCTR).
- The travel rule: send sender and recipient details with crypto transfers.
- Scam red flags: fake "halving bonus" offers and giveaway schemes. See how to spot crypto scams.
- Registration: make sure your FINTRAC MSB registration is current and accurate.
Frequently asked questions
When is the next Bitcoin halving?
Around April 2028, at block 1,050,000. The exact date depends on mining speed. Check our live countdown for the latest estimate.
What will the Bitcoin block reward be after the 2028 halving?
1.5625 BTC per block, down from 3.125 BTC.
How often does Bitcoin halve?
Every 210,000 blocks, which is about every four years.
When was the last Bitcoin halving?
April 2024, at block 840,000, when the reward fell from 6.25 to 3.125 BTC.
How many Bitcoin halvings are left?
Halvings continue until about 2140, when the final bitcoin is mined and the 21 million cap is reached.
Does the halving affect crypto compliance?
Not the rules themselves, but halving periods often bring more users, more transactions and more scams. Crypto businesses should make sure their KYC, monitoring and reporting can handle the extra activity.
AML Incubator helps crypto exchanges, wallets and other VASPs register with FINTRAC, build AML programs and provide outsourced compliance officers, through every market cycle.
Get help with crypto compliance
Sources: the Bitcoin block schedule (a halving every 210,000 blocks); 2028 estimate from public halving trackers such as CoinGecko, which update with mining speed.
