BIS data shows fiat currencies last a median 33 years, and Bitcoin fans noticed

A Bank for International Settlements study of 568 currencies is being read as a Bitcoin argument, though the BIS itself remains skeptical of crypto as money The Bank for International Settlements has put a number on how long state-issued money tends to survive. The answer is a median of 33 years. That figure is now circulating on social media as evidence that crypto challenges government currencies. The BIS research itself, however, does not mention Bitcoin. What the BIS actually found The data comes from BIS Working Paper 1392, released on November 6, 2026. It tracks the lifespans of 568 currencies from 1850 to 2026. The paper also found that approximately 70% of the currencies in its database have been discontinued. The usual cause was economic, according to the research. Online commentary has paired the 33-year statistic with Bitcoin’s design. The argument runs that a fixed-supply digital asset may present a challenge to fiat money with a shorter track record. That framing belongs to outside commentators, not the BIS. The working paper does not analyze digital assets at all. The BIS view on Bitcoin is far less flattering To understand where the BIS stands on Bitcoin, look at a p...