2136?

[clout]

What happens to the network when all bitcoins have been mined?

[Hermel]

Not much. Miners will still get transaction fees.

[orymh]

The same processing power that was previously applied to both mining new Bitcoins and verifying Bitcoin transactions, will continue to verify Bitcoin transactions. In theory, the people who own the mining hardware will still make money on transaction fees.

[clout]

Is the notion that miners will still make money from transaction fees dependent upon the price of bitcoin being really high, comparable to something like gold? What I am really trying to get at with this question is weather or not crypto "currencies" are stable if there is no mining incentive/ no new issuance of the "currency." I think that these crypto coins can replace the modern day exchange of stock certificates and can make global micro investments viable. In countries where there is a large unbanked populations and little to no investment or savings, individuals could perhaps buy crypto "certificates" using there phones since 6 out of the 7 billion people in the world have phones. Additionally, if less developed countries implemented this system it could make foreign investment easier, since crypto coins are so easily traded online. Just a thought, not entirely sure how feasible it is. However, looking at the shift towards mobile payments and mobile banking systems in lower income countries, I think crytpo currencies/certificates would do a lot of good.