pull down to refresh

Jack Dorsey Proposes the End of "Sats", Bitcoin's Smallest Unit
111 sats \ 7 comments \ @guerratotal 23 May bitcoin

Jack Dorsey Proposes the End of "Sats", Bitcoin's Smallest Unit

Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Block and a vocal advocate for Bitcoin, is supporting a radical shift in how we interact with BTC: the elimination of the satoshi (sat) as the smallest unit of Bitcoin.

What’s the Proposal?

Dorsey is backing BIP 177, a Bitcoin Improvement Proposal that suggests redefining “1 bitcoin” to represent what is currently 1 satoshi (0.00000001 BTC).

The idea?

To simplify Bitcoin's user experience by eliminating the need for decimals. Instead of showing fractions of a Bitcoin for everyday transactions, users would deal in whole numbers.
For example:
  • Instead of 0.00042 BTC, you’d see 42 bitcoin (under the new unit system).

Why This Matters

Bitcoin’s current structure—working with eight decimal places—is seen as a barrier for new users. Dorsey argues that decimal-based thinking is confusing and unintuitive, especially for mainstream adoption.
Reframing the base unit to what is now a “sat” would:
  • Make BTC easier to understand.
  • Enhance its appeal for daily payments.
  • Normalize transaction amounts for average users.

A Familiar Discussion

This isn’t the first time the community has debated the decimal problem. But with Dorsey’s backing and the rise of Bitcoin adoption, the idea is gaining more serious traction.

What Needs to Happen?

For this change to take place, it would require:
  • Broad consensus within the Bitcoin community.
  • Updates to wallets, exchanges, and other tools.
  • Education and transition time for users.

Conclusion

This proposal could radically reshape how Bitcoin is perceived and used. Moving away from sats and redefining the base unit might just be what Bitcoin needs for wider adoption.
👉 Read the original article on CoinTribune (Portuguese)
write
preview
related posts
71 sats \ 0 replies \ @Nostr_Archives 23 May
If people can under cents and dollars, they can understand bitcoins and sats. Shitcoins are looking very appealing all of a sudden. Education is not about dumbing down, that's how public schools work
reply
71 sats \ 1 reply \ @coinhome 23 May
Personally I think it is unnecessary, and would only cause confusion.
reply
0 sats \ 0 replies \ @guerratotal OP 7h
me tooooo!!!
reply
0 sats \ 0 replies \ @Alice_and_the_Wonderland 13h
For example:
  • Instead of 0.00042 BTC, you’d see 42 bitcoin (under the new unit system).
I believe the example is incorrect. It should state that 0.00042 BTC is equivalent to 42,000 bitcoins under BIP-177, not 42 bitcoins as it only replaces base unit.
Anyway, this proposal is truly groundbreaking.
reply
0 sats \ 0 replies \ @Alice_and_the_Wonderland 13h
I found the US monetary system is also rather confusing, which inspired me to propose a similar initiative called DIP-177. I encourage you to take a look at the proposal #987360.
Here's brief excerpt:
Specification
  1. New Base Unit: What we currently call a "cent" will now be referred to as "dollar."
  2. Deprecated Terms: Terms like "cent," "penny," "nickel," "dime," and "quarter" will be phased out for everyday value references.
  3. USD Code: The currency code "USD" will continue to represent the aggregated value of one hundred of these new "dollars." So, 1 USD will equal 100 "dollars"
I believe Jack Dorsey's approach to this issue is so brilliant and excellent.
reply
0 sats \ 0 replies \ @jakoyoh629 24 May
under the new unit system 42 bitcoin = 42k sats ?
Corrent > new 1 bitcoin = 10k bitcoin?
1$ = 100 cents 1 bitcoin= 100M sats
reply
0 sats \ 0 replies \ @cristaiji 23 May
He might be right. The average normie gives you a blank look when you mention sats but most people have heard of bitcoin at this stage, even the boomers.
The question for me is about potential unintended consequences?
reply