TLDR
- Bitcoin’s supply is capped at 21 million and cannot be increased by any method.
- Marathon Fusion claims it can turn mercury into gold through scalable fusion.
- Scientists estimate 2 metric tons of gold per gigawatt yearly could be produced.
- Samson Mow says Bitcoin’s scarcity is enforced by code, not physics or geology.
Samson Mow has issued a strong statement following the scientific breakthrough of mercury-to-gold transmutation by Marathon Fusion. Mow warned that while gold’s supply might soon increase through artificial means, Bitcoin remains fixed at 21 million coins—immune to physical conversion or creation through any scientific method.
Fusion Researchers Claim Scalable Mercury-to-Gold Process
Marathon Fusion researchers recently announced a breakthrough in producing gold by transmuting mercury through fusion. The team says this scalable method could generate around two metric tons of gold per gigawatt of thermal energy each year.
They further stated that the process would not reduce the energy output of fusion plants. Instead, it could create additional income streams for energy producers by combining electricity generation with precious metal production.
You can’t transmute anything into Bitcoin. https://t.co/BuhX5RNPJn
— Samson Mow (@Excellion) January 3, 2026
The research has sparked conversations about the future of gold’s scarcity. Traditionally, gold has been valued due to its rarity and the difficulty involved in mining it from the Earth. But if it can be produced in laboratories at scale, its perceived rarity could decline.
Bitcoin’s Supply Cannot Be Altered by Science
In response, Bitcoin advocate Samson Mow emphasized that no such transformation is possible with Bitcoin. “You can’t transmute anything into Bitcoin,” he stated on January 3, rejecting the idea that Bitcoin’s scarcity could ever be compromised like that of gold.
Bitcoin has a maximum supply of 21 million coins coded into its protocol. This limit is enforced by a global decentralized network and consensus among its participants. Unlike physical assets, Bitcoin does not rely on natural resources, geological constraints, or scientific processes for its value or creation.
While Bitcoin can be mined digitally, the mining process is part of the protocol’s design and cannot be changed to produce more coins. Mow’s statement has renewed the discussion on the differences between gold and Bitcoin, particularly in relation to long-term value.
Gold’s Scarcity Could Become Flexible
The success of mercury-to-gold transmutation challenges long-held views about gold’s supply. If the new method is adopted commercially, it may allow for the regular production of gold in large quantities, which was not possible before.
This development could make gold a less predictable store of value. For centuries, gold was considered a stable asset because of its limited supply. However, laboratory-based gold production may introduce variability in supply, affecting its market behavior.
Some experts say gold’s supply might become engineered instead of being limited to what is mined from the ground. If gold becomes more abundant, its role as a hedge against inflation could be questioned by investors.
Crypto Community Reacts to Mow’s Statement
Mow’s remarks sparked a debate within the crypto community. Many users pointed out that Bitcoin’s mathematical structure sets it apart from physical commodities. The fixed supply, governed by code, ensures that Bitcoin cannot be inflated or duplicated by external forces.
Other commentators agreed, noting that technological or scientific developments cannot increase Bitcoin’s quantity. While gold may face a new era of lab-based production, Bitcoin remains tied to its protocol, which can only be changed through rare and wide-reaching consensus.
Bitcoin’s digital nature and network governance continue to attract attention, especially as new technologies begin to alter traditional assets like gold.





