Bitcoin Halving Dates: When Is the Next BTC Halving?

According to current estimates, the next Bitcoin halving will take place sometime in Q2 2028, though the exact date isn’t yet known. Meanwhile, the most recent Bitcoin halving took place on April 20, 2024, which reduced the reward from 6.25 BTC to 3.125 BTC.

Bitcoin halving is a pre-programmed event that happens roughly every 4 years (210,000 blocks, to be exact) and reduces the rate at which new Bitcoins are created and introduced into circulation. The original reward for mining a block was 50 BTC when Bitcoin was first created. With the upcoming halving, the reward will be cut from 3.125 BTC to 1.5625 BTC.

In this article, we will explain when the next BTC halving will happen, examine the Bitcoin halving cycle history, and look into what the future might hold for the upcoming halving.

Key takeaways:

• The fourth Bitcoin halving happened on April 20, reducing the reward from 6.25 BTC to 3.125 BTC.
• Bitcoin halvings, seen as bullish events, reduce BTC inflation and enhance its value, making it a promising long-term investment.
• Previous Bitcoin halvings occurred in 2012, 2016, 2020, and 2024, each time significantly reducing mining rewards and leading to price increases.

When is the next BTC halving?

According to most estimates, the next Bitcoin halving, the fifth so far, will take place in Q2 2028, though the exact date isn’t yet known. The speed at which new Bitcoin blocks are produced is determined by the network’s difficulty adjustment algorithm and the collective computing power of miners in the network.

Bitcoin halving dates are one of the most important events in the crypto market. Bitcoin has climbed higher every halving cycle so far. If the historical trend were to continue, the Bitcoin Rainbow Chart predicts that BTC could trade between an upper price bound of roughly $765,638 and a lower bound of $68,945 during the next halving cycle.

Bitcoin halving dates history

The first Bitcoin halving took place in 2012, the second in 2016, the third in 2020, and the fourth one in 2024, with each halving cycle seeing BTC climb to new heights. In the following sections, we are going to examine the price movements of BTC during each cycle and check how the Bitcoin halving rewards decreased.

BTC halving dates:

BTC price lows and highs during each cycle:

Pre-halving period (January 3, 2009 – November 28, 2012)

The period between the launch of the Bitcoin network in January 2009 and the first halving in November 2012 is sometimes referred to as the “pre-halving period”. During that time, the reward for successfully mining a new Bitcoin block was 50 BTC.

During that time, Bitcoin was known only to a niche audience, primarily consisting of programmers and cryptographers. In addition, 10.5 million BTC were mined during that time (exactly half of Bitcoin’s total supply of 21 million coins). Bitcoin inventor Satoshi Nakamoto is believed to have mined the most coins during the period, with some estimates attributing more than 1 million BTC that were mined to Nakamoto. Interestingly, they never moved or sold any of that BTC in the time since.

BTC reached a high of $29.6 during the pre-halving period.

First Bitcoin halving cycle (November 28, 2012 – July 9, 2016)

Following the period after the Genesis block, during which mining rewards were set at 50 BTC, the first Bitcoin halving ever took place on November 28, 2012. The rewards were cut to 25 BTC. 

While Bitcoin was still in its infancy, a wider circle of people became interested in the digital currency that had already made some early investors millionaires. Bitcoin was first featured in mainstream outlets, particularly in November 2013, when the currency broke the psychological price barrier at $1,000.

About a year into the first halving cycle, BTC reached a high of $1,170.

Second Bitcoin halving cycle (July 9, 2016 – May 11, 2020)

The second BTC halving occurred on July 9, 2016, reducing Bitcoin mining rewards from 25 BTC to 12.5 BTC. About a year after the halving event, Bitcoin reached an all-time high above $19,000.

At this point in time, cryptocurrency became mainstream. Thousands of new cryptocurrencies were launched during the second halving cycle. Initial coin offerings (ICOs) became very popular during that time, giving investors the opportunity to participate in new projects by committing their BTC and other funds. The so-called “ICO craze” became big enough to draw attention from the US top financial watchdog, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which ultimately prohibited ICOs for US customers.

Bitcoin reached an all-time halving cycle high of $19,400 in December 2017.

Third Bitcoin halving cycle (May 11, 2020 – April 20, 2024)

The third Bitcoin halving occurred on May 11, 2020, reducing the block reward to 6.25 BTC and pushing it into single-digit territory for the first time. During this cycle, Bitcoin’s market capitalization surpassed $1 trillion for the first time, while BTC went on to reach an all-time high of $73,628.

The period was defined by rising institutional interest, with more sophisticated investors entering the market alongside a surge in retail participation driven by rapidly increasing prices. It was also marked by the launch of spot Bitcoin ETFs from major financial firms such as BlackRock and Fidelity, making Bitcoin exposure more accessible to institutional investors.

Compared to previous cycles, the third halving phase stood out as BTC reached its peak price much later than usual. In earlier cycles, Bitcoin typically set its cycle high within about a year of the halving event, whereas this time the peak occurred closer to the end of the cycle.

Bitcoin reached its then-highest price at the end of the third halving cycle, climbing to $73.628.

Fourth Bitcoin halving cycle (April 20, 2024 – TBD 2028)

The fourth Bitcoin halving took place on April 20, 2024, reducing the block reward to 3.125 BTC. Although the cycle is still in its early stages, early price action has closely followed patterns seen in previous halving periods. As with earlier cycles, Bitcoin did not rally immediately after the halving and instead experienced a period of consolidation.

Roughly six months later, BTC pushed to a new all-time high, peaking at $109,079 in January 2025. Since the halving, Bitcoin has traded within a wide range, with prices falling as low as $49,436 before rebounding to new highs, with the most recent ATH reached in October 2025, when BTC climbed up to $126,025.

Bitcoin’s newest ATH ($126,025) was reached in October 2025, during the fourth halving cycle.

Bitcoin price prediction 2026-2028: Here’s what to expect until the next BTC halving

Current projections point to a prolonged bearish phase for Bitcoin throughout 2027, with prices expected to trend steadily lower over the course of the year. Forecasts suggest BTC could fall from the low-$80,000 range at the start of 2027 to the mid-$50,000 area by year-end, reflecting continued downside pressure and weak medium-term momentum.

This downward trend is expected to extend into early 2028, where Bitcoin is projected to bottom out before sentiment begins to shift. From February 2028 onward, forecasts indicate a sharp reversal, with prices accelerating rapidly as markets begin pricing in the fifth Bitcoin halving.

The projected rebound intensifies through the first half of 2028, with Bitcoin expected to reclaim six-figure levels by March and potentially exceed $200,000 by late spring. This pattern aligns with historical cycles, where extended drawdowns are often followed by aggressive rallies once halving anticipation starts to dominate market behavior.

According to our Bitcoin price prediction algorithm, the price of BTC could rally sharply in anticipation of the 5th Bitcoin halving, possibly climbing over $150,000.

The bottom line: The next BTC halving will occur in Q2 2028

Bitcoin halvings are widely perceived as bullish catalysts not only for BTC but for the crypto market as a whole. Since they reduce the amount of new BTC entering circulation, halvings effectively reduce Bitcoin’s inflation rate and thus ensure that each BTC is more valuable, thanks to deflationary mechanics. This makes Bitcoin one of the best long-term crypto investments and, with the next halving quickly approaching, one of the best cryptos to buy right now.