SatsAtlas

Bitcoin glossary

Debasement

The erosion of a currency’s value through expanding its supply.

Debasement is the loss of a currency’s purchasing power caused by expanding its supply — historically by clipping coins, today by monetary expansion. It is why the same dollar buys less over decades, a drift usually described politely as inflation.

Bitcoin’s fixed supply makes it the control group: measure any fiat currency in sats over the years and the debasement becomes a chart rather than a debate.

Related terms

All 44 terms → · Structured learning path →