The Bitcoin network marked a major milestone on Saturday, processing its one billionth transaction since the genesis block was mined in January 2009. Reaching this landmark in just 15 years highlights the resilience and scalability of the world’s first blockchain.
With an average of 178,475 transactions per day, Bitcoin has proven its capacity to securely handle substantial volume without relying on centralized intermediaries. The network’s activity has surged to new heights over the past year, driven by the launch of novel protocols like Bitcoin Ordinals and Runes, as well as growing institutional adoption following the approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs.
April 23rd saw Bitcoin post a single-day record of over 926,000 transactions, with volume remaining elevated in May even after the excitement of the recent halving event has moderated. Having demonstrated its ability to efficiently process 1 billion transactions at scale, Bitcoin appears poised to reach the 2 billion milestone at an even faster pace as adoption continues accelerating.
Historical amount of yearly BTC transactions
| Year | Transactions |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 22,389 |
| 2010 | 122,831 |
| 2011 | 1,553,195 |
| 2012 | 6,796,783 |
| 2013 | 16,881,913 |
| 2014 | 22,678,540 |
| 2015 | 40,865,423 |
| 2016 | 76,565,905 |
| 2017 | 101,662,085 |
| 2018 | 81,552,185 |
| 2019 | 121,744,513 |
| 2020 | 121,868,151 |
| 2021 | 108,859,897 |
| 2022 | 104,258,273 |
| 2023 | 143,983,505 |
| 2024 (Current) | 51,717,032 |
| 2024 (Projected) | 146,121,138 |
Coinciding with this achievement, a dormant Bitcoin address from the Satoshi era, when Bitcoin’s pseudonymous founder was still active, came to life after a decade of inactivity. On Saturday, the wallet split its 687 BTC, worth $43.9 million, between two new addresses.
The crypto community always pays close attention when Satoshi-era wallets awaken, sparking speculation on the original owners and their motivations. However, with an estimated 1.75 million Bitcoin addresses holding nearly $121 billion in BTC remaining inactive for over a decade, such events are not uncommon.
Ultimately, the 1 billionth transaction represents a symbolic victory for Bitcoin, cementing its transformation from an obscure experiment to a trillion-dollar asset class that institutions cannot afford to ignore. With Bitcoin’s fundamentals stronger than ever, enthusiasts have already set their sights on the next billion transactions.
Read more: Bitcoin ETFs Bounce Back as Grayscale Ends 78-Day Losing Streak
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