📌 Overview

Argentum (ARG) is an actively mined, Bitcoin-derived cryptocurrency launched in 2013. It features multiple proof-of-work algorithms, fast block times, and a maximum supply of 64 million coins.

🧮 Supply Mechanics

✅ Hardcoded Supply Cap

Argentum enforces a strict upper limit on its total coin supply:

static const CAmount MAX_MONEY = 64000000 * COIN;

This cap is enforced via:

inline bool MoneyRange(const CAmount& nValue) {
    return (nValue >= 0 && nValue <= MAX_MONEY);
}

These checks are used in both transaction and block validation logic, ensuring the network rejects any attempt to create more than 64,000,000 ARG.

✅ Block Reward Schedule

• Before AuxPoW activation:
  • Rewards are randomly distributed between 1 and 5 ARG per block, using a pseudo-random generator seeded from the block hash.
• Bootstrap rules:
  • Block 1: premine of 200,000 ARG
  • Blocks < 500: 0 reward
  • Blocks 500–999: 1 ARG
  • Blocks 1000–1499: 2 ARG
• After AuxPoW is activated:
  • Flat reward of 3 ARG per block
  • No halving schedule or supply tapering

This reward structure remains in effect at block height 6,968,764.

🔍 Source Code Audit

A full recursive scan of Argentum’s source code (.cpp, .h, etc.) was conducted to detect any logic that could support:

• Percentage-based inflation (e.g., 1.1% or 0.011)
• Dynamic changes to the supply cap
• Time- or block-based inflation triggers
• Modifications to nSubsidy, blockReward, or MAX_MONEY

📋 Results:

• One relevant match:
  static const CAmount MAX_MONEY = 64000000 * COIN;
  This line defines a hardcoded maximum supply of 64,000,000 ARG, enforced by MoneyRange(). No logic exists to increase it.

🧵 Bitcointalk Thread Investigation

The Bitcointalk thread (#1432608) and original 2013 announcement mention:

“Once this limit is reached, it is increased by 1.1% annually...”

However, after reviewing both threads in full, no further details or clarifications are found:

• No activation height or trigger mechanism
• No roadmap or development comments
• No code, modules, or forks to support inflation

🧠 Final Verdict

✅ What Is Enforced:

• Hard cap: 64,000,000 ARG
• Flat block reward: 3 ARG (post-AuxPoW)
• No halving or emission reduction
• Strict enforcement via MoneyRange()

❌ What Is Not Present:

• No 1.1% inflation mechanism
• No supply cap growth
• No post-cap emission logic
• No references in code or community documentation

📌 Conclusion

While the original Argentum team promoted a 1.1% annual post-cap inflation model, this feature is not implemented. As of block 6,968,764, Argentum operates as a fixed-supply cryptocurrency with no inflation.

The inflation idea appears to have been aspirational only, never developed into working code or consensus rules.

Fortunately, Argentum's strict emission cap and absence of inflationary supply growth make it well-suited as a long-term store of value — preserving purchasing power over time with a predictable monetary policy.