Better definitions for issuance and supply

[lastmjs]

The difference between issuance and supply is becoming more apparent as the numbers come in and discussions continue. We need to truly understand the difference between these two methods or properties of the Ethereum network. I think we are pretty well agreed on issuance. We have followed the yellow paper combined with multiple client implementations. We have three independent scripts coming to consensus on what the issuance has been.

The supply seems to be a different story. Though a certain number of ETH has been issued, that does not mean that it still exists. Assuming there is no way to truly destroy ETH, the total issuance and supply should be equivalent. But apparently there are ways to actually destroy ETH. I think a first good step is to enumerate ways that ETH can be destroyed. And we should also come to agreement on what destroying ETH means. For example, if ETH is stuck at an address, does that count as being destroyed (I think not)?

The only way I have heard of ETH being truly destroyed is through contract self-destructs.