Kaspa and Bitcoin often get discussed from opposite angles, yet a recent conversation surfaced a challenge that quietly links both networks. In a video from Finance Freeman, the host sat down with Zach Humphries to talk through a question that rarely gets center stage. What happens to proof of work networks when block rewards fade and fees must carry the weight.
The discussion moved past price talk and focused on structure. That shift revealed why this issue matters far beyond short-term BTC price or KAS price movements.
Bitcoin And Kaspa Share A Long Term Miner Incentive Challenge
Bitcoin works because it is simple. Many view BTC as digital gold, something to hold rather than spend. That design has worked for years, largely because miners still receive block rewards. Once issuance slows and eventually stops at 21 million BTC, fees become the main incentive keeping miners online and securing the network.
Finance Freeman explained that this challenge is not unique to Bitcoin. Kaspa faces the same reality, only on a different timeline. Kaspa supply trends toward roughly 28 billion KAS, and more than 95% has already been mined. Fee generation on the base layer remains limited, which places pressure on miners sooner rather than later.
Why Kaspa Is Forced To Confront The Problem Earlier
Timing creates the key distinction. Bitcoin can delay the fee conversation for decades. Kaspa does not have that luxury. According to Finance Freeman, miners already feel that pressure today, which forces Kaspa to think about throughput and usage much earlier in its lifecycle.
This early pressure can become an advantage if the network succeeds in driving activity on chain. Fees only matter when transactions exist, and transactions require a base layer capable of handling them without relying heavily on external systems.
The conversation with Zach Humphries touched on whether scaling solutions are even necessary. Bitcoin has leaned on external approaches such as Lightning, which supports payments without stressing the base layer. That keeps BTC simple, yet it also shifts activity away from where miner fees are earned.
Kaspa approaches the issue differently. Developers like Jonathan Sompolinsky and Michael Sutton are working on solutions designed to increase throughput directly on the network. Finance Freeman framed this as an attempt to solve the scalability and security balance without fragmenting liquidity across layers.
What This Means For BTC Price And KAS Price Over Time
This discussion does not suggest Bitcoin is broken. BTC price remains supported by adoption, scarcity, and institutional interest, with mining costs estimated near $60K. Kaspa operates in a more experimental phase, where success depends on whether increased usage can translate into sustainable fees.
The shared problem sits quietly beneath both networks. One can postpone it, while the other must solve it early. Curiosity now centers on whether confronting the challenge sooner gives Kaspa an edge in structure, even as Bitcoin continues to dominate in trust and recognition.