21 million, a number that attracts countless people, represents the total upper limit of Bitcoin. But have you ever thought that this number is not unchangeable? Is Bitcoin really as decentralized as we imagine?

Bitcoin's code is not unchangeable. Although it is currently set at 21 million, in theory, this number can be adjusted as long as enough consensus is obtained. Imagine if one day in the future, this number becomes 1 billion or even more, what will the value of Bitcoin be? The scarcity that once existed will no longer exist.

This is not alarmist. Any technology has its limitations, and so does Bitcoin. It relies on the consensus of miners around the world, and the consensus itself has the possibility of being changed. A consensus mechanism controlled by a few people will shake the foundation of Bitcoin's decentralization.

At present, there is huge technical and social resistance to modifying the total amount. But we must realize that the value of Bitcoin does not only depend on its limited quantity, but also on the technology behind it, the application scenarios, and people's trust in it. The value of a cryptocurrency whose total amount can be easily modified will be severely impacted.

The future direction of Bitcoin’s value will depend on whether it can maintain its promise of decentralization and whether it can continue to adapt to the ever-changing digital currency market. This will be a topic worthy of continued attention.