<p>Transaction confirmation is an external concept which tells you how difficult it is (in terms of probability) to remove that transaction from  the block that contains it due to reorganization of the blockchain. </p>

<p>Genesis block transaction is a special one as it is hardcoded in the source code and the entire Bitcoin blockchain is built on top of the Genesis block. Confirmation concept does not apply because you cannot remove this transaction from the Genesis block, as you will be building a completely different chain if you do so. </p>

<p>As a side note, the <a href="https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/10009/why-can-t-the-genesis-block-coinbase-be-spent">coinbase transaction is also not spendable</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-25T10:20:37.983Z
Thanks! Understood. Curious the "not spendable" fact. So there are 21 million bitcoins, but spensable there are 21million - 50btc :D
user1710825
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-25T10:30:05.150Z
There are two good answers on this forum on that which you can search. If you don't find it, I'll post it later when I am in front of  computer
Ugam Kamat
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-25T13:13:15.097Z
@user1710825 Check the embedded link in my edited post to see why the coinbase transaction is not spendable. As to your question about how many bitcoins will be outstanding, read https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/38994/will-there-be-21-million-bitcoins-eventually/38998#38998
Ugam Kamat
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-25T09:13:40.880Z
2019-05-25T13:12:33.623Z
2019-05-25T13:12:33.623Z
Ugam Kamat
<p>Why the coinbase transaction, comming from the genesis block, don't have confirmations?</p>

<p>All the others coinbase transactions have confirmations, but not in the Genesis block.</p>

<protocol><confirmations><genesis-block>
Genesis block coinbase transaction without confirmations
user1710825
# Genesis block coinbase transaction without confirmations

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-05-25)

Why the coinbase transaction, comming from the genesis block, don't have confirmations?

All the others coinbase transactions have confirmations, but not in the Genesis block.

**Tags:** protocol, confirmations, genesis-block


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2019-05-25. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

Transaction confirmation is an external concept which tells you how difficult it is (in terms of probability) to remove that transaction from the block that contains it due to reorganization of the blockchain.

Genesis block transaction is a special one as it is hardcoded in the source code and the entire Bitcoin blockchain is built on top of the Genesis block. Confirmation concept does not apply because you cannot remove this transaction from the Genesis block, as you will be building a completely different chain if you do so.

As a side note, the [coinbase transaction is also not spendable](https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/10009/why-can-t-the-genesis-block-coinbase-be-spent).

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks! Understood. Curious the "not spendable" fact. So there are 21 million bitcoins, but spensable there are 21million - 50btc :D  
> **username_1**: There are two good answers on this forum on that which you can search. If you don't find it, I'll post it later when I am in front of  computer  
> **username_1**: @username_0 Check the embedded link in my edited post to see why the coinbase transaction is not spendable. As to your question about how many bitcoins will be outstanding, read https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/38994/will-there-be-21-million-bitcoins-eventually/38998#38998  

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