user4090: If Bitcoin mining is becoming more and more impractical, where you'll need to buy like a ButterflyLabs unit, and where even eventually a room full of these units might not be enough some day, what then?
Or, am I failing to understand some controls on Bitcoin that make it where eventually the processing power requirements go down again by some market factor? Forgive me, I'm new at this.

user4111: In the scenario Bitcoin is a success - my benchmark for which is it being used in a transactional capacity rather than just a store of value or speculation - the transaction fees will have grown to a size where they can continue to support mining indefinitely.

user1507: Mining is not a long-term way to make money.  Eventually, the best way to get BTC will be the old-fashioned way: Earn them.

user85: I think you misunderstand the problem. The reason mining is becoming impractical is because there's too much of it. It's like a restaurant that's too crowded. It means you can't get a table, but the restaurant is not going to go out of business.

4090: <p>If Bitcoin mining is becoming more and more impractical, where you'll need to buy like a ButterflyLabs unit, and where even eventually a room full of these units might not be enough some day, what then?</p>

<p>Or, am I failing to understand some controls on Bitcoin that make it where eventually the processing power requirements go down again by some market factor? Forgive me, I'm new at this.</p>
 4111: <p>In the scenario Bitcoin is a success - my benchmark for which is it being used in a transactional capacity rather than just a store of value or speculation - the transaction fees will have grown to a size where they can continue to support mining indefinitely.</p>
 1507: <p>Mining is not a long-term way to make money.  Eventually, the best way to get BTC will be the old-fashioned way: Earn them.</p>
 85: <p>I think you misunderstand the problem. The reason mining is becoming impractical is because there's too much of it. It's like a restaurant that's too crowded. It means you can't get a table, but the restaurant is not going to go out of business.</p>
