Can the number of coins surpass 21 million?

[bitcoinsrus]

I read 2 different people mention that developers might be able to increase the amount of coins (via patch). If this is a possibility, what would the outcome be?

I always wondered why 21 million was the limit. Did that number mean something to original developers? If they knew it would take off, would the limit be 200 million or something (to anticipate the rise?)

Thoughts appreciated.

[DannyElfman]

It could be raised with a hard fork, but it won't ever happen. Would destroy the integrity of the whole project!

[RyNinDaCleM]

There would never be a need to increase the limit!
If 1 satoshi became too high priced to accommodate a small transaction, they can just add a decimal place. But I don't ever see that happening either. By the time 1 satoshi == $1, $1.00 will no longer buy anything.

[Benjig]

that would never happen, has someone already said, actually 1 bitcoin has 100 millions units to be dividible, so even if bitcoin goes to 1 million usd, the decimals are enough...

[DannyElfman]

that would never happen, has someone already said, actually 1 bitcoin has 100 millions units to be dividible, so even if bitcoin goes to 1 million usd, the decimals are enough...

Exactly and in addition to that, like RyninD said, you can add as many digits as you want with a hard fork!

[vuduchyld]

Ohhhhhhh...I thought you were asking whether there would be 21 million shady ass shitcoin developers pimping useless altz...

[DannyElfman]

Ohhhhhhh...I thought you were asking whether there would be 21 million shady ass shitcoin developers pimping useless altz...

haha, the chance that there will be more altcoins than number of bitcoins is actually pretty high longterm

[vuduchyld]

Ohhhhhhh...I thought you were asking whether there would be 21 million shady ass shitcoin developers pimping useless altz...

haha, the chance that there will be more altcoins than number of bitcoins is actually pretty high longterm

Sad but true, especially if you count the all the ones that come and go!

[Marbit]

No worries, I'm working on counterfeiting bitcoins as we speak. I'll let you all know how it goes.