BIS data shows fiat currencies last a median 33 years, and Bitcoin fans noticed
Photo: Crypto Briefing
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 . The data comes from BIS Working Paper 1392, released on November 6, 2026. It tracks the lifespans of 568 currencies from 1850 to 2026.
Source: Crypto Briefing
