A deflationary asset is a digital currency that is engineered to reduce in supply over time, potentially leading to an increase in value due to its scarcity.
Understanding Deflationary Assets
A deflationary asset is a type of currency that is designed to increase in value over time. This happens as the supply of the asset decreases. Unlike traditional money, which can lose value due to inflation, deflationary assets work on the opposite principle.
How Deflationary Cryptocurrencies Gain Value
Two main strategies contribute to the deflationary nature of certain cryptocurrencies:
- Burning Mechanism: This involves permanently removing coins from circulation. It can happen through various methods, such as buyback-and-burn or burn-on transaction.
- Capped Supply: Some cryptocurrencies have a fixed limit on the total number of coins that can be created. Bitcoin, for instance, has a cap of 21 million coins.
These strategies lead to a reduced number of coins over time, potentially driving up the value due to increased scarcity.
The Role of Halving
Bitcoin exemplifies the deflationary model not just with its cap, but also through a process known as halving. This event cuts the block reward given to miners in half every four years, slowing down the creation of new coins.
Why Consider Deflationary Cryptocurrencies?
Deflationary cryptocurrencies are often seen as a hedge against inflation. As they become more scarce, their purchasing power may increase, offering a potential safeguard for investors’ capital.