Bitcoin, as a revolutionary digital asset, derives its scarcity not only from its fixed total supply but also because a large number of Bitcoins have permanently disappeared from circulation. Although the total supply of Bitcoin is set at 21 million coins, approximately 19.91 million have been mined to date, leaving about 1 million left to be mined. However, what is even more noteworthy is that a considerable number of Bitcoins have been permanently lost for various reasons.

According to research reports from multiple institutions, the number of permanently lost Bitcoins is estimated to be between 2.3 million and 4 million, accounting for 11% to 18% of the total supply. This data comes from analyses by well-known blockchain companies like BitGo and Ledger. Although Glassnode data indicates that as many as 7.7 million Bitcoins may be in a "long-term dormant or lost" state, this figure includes the coin amounts held by long-term holders, so it may overestimate the actual lost amount.

There are three main reasons for the loss of Bitcoin: first, users mismanage their private keys, such as forgetting their mnemonic phrases or storing them carelessly; second, storage devices become damaged or lost, making it impossible to access digital assets; and finally, the holder may unexpectedly pass away without passing on their private key information to others. These situations highlight the unique nature of Bitcoin as a decentralized asset - once access is lost, it is like losing physical gold, and cannot be recovered.

One of the most notable cases in the Bitcoin loss incidents is James Howells, who lost a hard drive containing 8,000 Bitcoins in 2013, which are now worth approximately $900 million. Another well-known case is Stefan Thomas, who cannot access his Bitcoin wallet because he forgot his password.

The permanently lost Bitcoins further increase the scarcity and value of the remaining circulating coins. Over time, similar events may continue to occur, which will have a profound impact on the long-term supply and value of Bitcoin. For investors and holders, this phenomenon emphasizes the importance of properly safeguarding private keys and backups, while also reminding us that in the decentralized digital asset world, the significance of personal responsibility has been magnified like never before.