Difference between revisions of "Satoshi (unit)"

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[[File:SatoshiUsage.png|thumb|The term "satoshi" in use on a message board]]A '''satoshi''' is currently the smallest unit of the bitcoin currency usable on the [[block chain]].<ref name="se">[http://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/114/what-is-a-satoshi What is a 'Satoshi'? - Bitcoin Stack Exchange]</ref> It is a one hundred millionth of a single bitcoin (0.00000001 BTC).<ref name="se"/> The unit has been named in collective homage to the original creator of Bitcoin, [[Satoshi Nakamoto]].
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[[File:SatoshiUsage.png|thumb|The term "satoshi" in use on a message board]]The '''satoshi''' is currently the smallest unit of the bitcoin currency recorded on the [[block chain]].<ref name="se">[http://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/114/what-is-a-satoshi What is a 'Satoshi'? - Bitcoin Stack Exchange]</ref> It is a one hundred millionth of a single bitcoin (0.00000001 BTC).<ref name="se"/> The unit has been named in collective homage to the original creator of Bitcoin, [[Satoshi Nakamoto]].<ref name="ribuck"/>
  
All amounts in the block chain are denominated in satoshi before being converted for display. The source code also uses satoshi when specifying an amount of bitcoin.
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All amounts in the block chain are denominated in satoshi before being converted for display.<ref>{{cite btct|title=Why 1BTC should equal 10^8 satoshi ?|date=11 October 2014|id=819656}}</ref> The source code also uses satoshi when specifying an amount of bitcoin.<ref name="nov08"/> When displaying an extremely fine fraction of a bitcoin, as in a contemporary [[faucet]], the amount is displayed in satoshi for readability.<ref>{{cite web|title=Do These "Free Bitcoin" Sites Work?|work=[[CryptoCoinsNews]]|author=Barnes, Samuel|date=9 April 2014|accessdate=19 August 2015|url=https://www.cryptocoinsnews.com/do-free-bitcoin-sites-work/}}</ref>
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As of August 2015, 1 US cent is worth approximately 4300 satoshi.
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
The value of a bitcoin in satoshi was decided by Satoshi Nakamoto to be 100 million no later than November 2008.<ref>{{cite btct|id=382374|date=23 December 2013|title=Bitcoin source from November 2008.}}</ref>
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The value of a bitcoin in satoshi was decided by Satoshi Nakamoto to be 100 million no later than November 2008.<ref name="nov08">{{cite btct|id=382374|date=23 December 2013|title=Bitcoin source from November 2008.}}</ref>
  
On November 15, 2010, [[ribuck]] proposed that the one hundredth of a bitcoin (0.01 BTC) be called a ''Satoshi''.<ref>{{cite btct|id=369|post=22160|date=14 July 2010|title=Official Bitcoin Unicode Character?}}</ref> Four months later he instead suggested that the one hundred millionth unit be called an ''austrian'' or a ''satoshi''.<ref>{{cite btct|id=3311|post=46648|date=10 February 2011|title=More divisibility required - move the decimal point}}</ref> The name ''satoshi'' caught on, and was widely adopted thereafter.<ref>{{cite btct|id=407422|post=4415850|date=9 January 2014|title=How did “satoshi” become the name of the base unit?}}</ref>
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On November 15, 2010, [[ribuck]] proposed that the one hundredth of a bitcoin (0.01 BTC) be called a ''Satoshi''.<ref>{{cite btct|id=369|post=22160|date=14 July 2010|title=Official Bitcoin Unicode Character?}}</ref> Four months later he instead suggested that the one hundred millionth unit be called an ''austrian'' or a ''satoshi''.<ref>{{cite btct|id=3311|post=46648|date=10 February 2011|title=More divisibility required - move the decimal point}}</ref> The name ''satoshi'' caught on, and was widely adopted thereafter.<ref name="ribuck">{{cite btct|id=407422|post=4415850|date=9 January 2014|title=How did “satoshi” become the name of the base unit?}}</ref>
  
 
==Usage==
 
==Usage==
 
===Plural===
 
===Plural===
Traditionally, the plural form has been simply ''satoshi'',<ref>[https://en.bitcoin.it/w/index.php?title=Help:FAQ&diff=53369&oldid=53362 Bitcoin Wiki revision by theymos]</ref> but the term ''satoshis'' is also very prevalent. If the plural form were to follow the rules of Japanese grammar, it may be pronounced as ''satoshi'',<ref name="jj73">{{cite btct|id=289475|post=3112861|date=9 September 2013|title=satoshii}}</ref> or ''satoshisa''<ref name="jj73"/>.
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Traditionally, the plural form has been simply ''satoshi'',<ref>[https://en.bitcoin.it/w/index.php?title=Help:FAQ&diff=53369&oldid=53362 Bitcoin Wiki revision by theymos]</ref> but the term ''satoshis'' is also very prevalent. If the plural form were to follow the rules of Japanese grammar, it may be pronounced as ''satoshi'',<ref name="jj73">{{cite btct|id=289475|post=3112861|date=9 September 2013|title=satoshii}}</ref> or ''satoshisa''.<ref name="jj73"/>
  
 
===Symbol===
 
===Symbol===
Satoshi is sometimes abbreviated to ''sat'' or ''s''.
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Satoshi is sometimes abbreviated to ''sat'' or ''s'', although no symbol has been widely adopted.
  
 
The Japanese character シ ("'''shi'''") has been proposed as a potential currency symbol for the satoshi.<ref>{{cite reddit|r=Bitcoin|id=3egrjk|title=Satoshi symbol|date=24 July 2015}}</ref> The Katakana symbol サ ("'''sa'''") has also been proposed, as it looks more reminiscent of a currency symbol.<ref>{{cite reddit|r=Bitcoin|id=3egrjk|title=Satoshi symbol|date=24 July 2015|post=https://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/3egrjk/satoshi_symbol/ctezrh5}}</ref><ref>{{cite reddit|r=Bitcoin|id=3egrjk|title=Satoshi symbol|date=24 July 2015|post=https://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/3egrjk/satoshi_symbol/ctf1j9b}}</ref> The circled shi (㋛) has been suggested to disambiguate the symbol from the character,<ref>{{cite reddit|r=Bitcoin|id=3egrjk|title=Satoshi symbol|date=24 July 2015|post=https://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/3egrjk/satoshi_symbol/cteue94}}</ref><ref name="ryepdx">{{cite reddit|r=Bitcoin|id=3egrjk|title=Satoshi symbol|date=24 July 2015|post=https://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/3egrjk/satoshi_symbol/cteue94}}</ref><ref name="grixm"/> as it is synonymous with death.<ref name="grixm">{{cite reddit|r=Bitcoin|id=3egrjk|title=Satoshi symbol|date=24 July 2015|post=https://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/3egrjk/satoshi_symbol/ctfj7yo}}</ref><ref name="mokahless">{{cite reddit|r=Bitcoin|id=3egrjk|title=Satoshi symbol|date=24 July 2015|post=https://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/3egrjk/satoshi_symbol/ctf6pvd}}</ref> Additionally, the Hiragana shi (し) is a suggestion.<ref name="mokahless"/><ref>{{cite reddit|r=Bitcoin|id=3egrjk|title=Satoshi symbol|date=24 July 2015|post=https://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/3egrjk/satoshi_symbol/ctf7e09}}</ref>
 
The Japanese character シ ("'''shi'''") has been proposed as a potential currency symbol for the satoshi.<ref>{{cite reddit|r=Bitcoin|id=3egrjk|title=Satoshi symbol|date=24 July 2015}}</ref> The Katakana symbol サ ("'''sa'''") has also been proposed, as it looks more reminiscent of a currency symbol.<ref>{{cite reddit|r=Bitcoin|id=3egrjk|title=Satoshi symbol|date=24 July 2015|post=https://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/3egrjk/satoshi_symbol/ctezrh5}}</ref><ref>{{cite reddit|r=Bitcoin|id=3egrjk|title=Satoshi symbol|date=24 July 2015|post=https://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/3egrjk/satoshi_symbol/ctf1j9b}}</ref> The circled shi (㋛) has been suggested to disambiguate the symbol from the character,<ref>{{cite reddit|r=Bitcoin|id=3egrjk|title=Satoshi symbol|date=24 July 2015|post=https://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/3egrjk/satoshi_symbol/cteue94}}</ref><ref name="ryepdx">{{cite reddit|r=Bitcoin|id=3egrjk|title=Satoshi symbol|date=24 July 2015|post=https://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/3egrjk/satoshi_symbol/cteue94}}</ref><ref name="grixm"/> as it is synonymous with death.<ref name="grixm">{{cite reddit|r=Bitcoin|id=3egrjk|title=Satoshi symbol|date=24 July 2015|post=https://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/3egrjk/satoshi_symbol/ctfj7yo}}</ref><ref name="mokahless">{{cite reddit|r=Bitcoin|id=3egrjk|title=Satoshi symbol|date=24 July 2015|post=https://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/3egrjk/satoshi_symbol/ctf6pvd}}</ref> Additionally, the Hiragana shi (し) is a suggestion.<ref name="mokahless"/><ref>{{cite reddit|r=Bitcoin|id=3egrjk|title=Satoshi symbol|date=24 July 2015|post=https://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/3egrjk/satoshi_symbol/ctf7e09}}</ref>

Revision as of 18:38, 19 August 2015

The term "satoshi" in use on a message board
The satoshi is currently the smallest unit of the bitcoin currency recorded on the block chain.[1] It is a one hundred millionth of a single bitcoin (0.00000001 BTC).[1] The unit has been named in collective homage to the original creator of Bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoto.[2]

All amounts in the block chain are denominated in satoshi before being converted for display.[3] The source code also uses satoshi when specifying an amount of bitcoin.[4] When displaying an extremely fine fraction of a bitcoin, as in a contemporary faucet, the amount is displayed in satoshi for readability.[5]

As of August 2015, 1 US cent is worth approximately 4300 satoshi.

History

The value of a bitcoin in satoshi was decided by Satoshi Nakamoto to be 100 million no later than November 2008.[4]

On November 15, 2010, ribuck proposed that the one hundredth of a bitcoin (0.01 BTC) be called a Satoshi.[6] Four months later he instead suggested that the one hundred millionth unit be called an austrian or a satoshi.[7] The name satoshi caught on, and was widely adopted thereafter.[2]

Usage

Plural

Traditionally, the plural form has been simply satoshi,[8] but the term satoshis is also very prevalent. If the plural form were to follow the rules of Japanese grammar, it may be pronounced as satoshi,[9] or satoshisa.[9]

Symbol

Satoshi is sometimes abbreviated to sat or s, although no symbol has been widely adopted.

The Japanese character シ ("shi") has been proposed as a potential currency symbol for the satoshi.[10] The Katakana symbol サ ("sa") has also been proposed, as it looks more reminiscent of a currency symbol.[11][12] The circled shi (㋛) has been suggested to disambiguate the symbol from the character,[13][14][15] as it is synonymous with death.[15][16] Additionally, the Hiragana shi (し) is a suggestion.[16][17]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 What is a 'Satoshi'? - Bitcoin Stack Exchange
  2. 2.0 2.1 BitcoinTalk thread 407422. How did “satoshi” become the name of the base unit? 9 January 2014. Post 4415850.
  3. BitcoinTalk thread 819656. Why 1BTC should equal 10^8 satoshi ? 11 October 2014.
  4. 4.0 4.1 BitcoinTalk thread 382374. Bitcoin source from November 2008. 23 December 2013.
  5. Barnes, Samuel (9 April 2014). "Do These "Free Bitcoin" Sites Work?". CryptoCoinsNews. https://www.cryptocoinsnews.com/do-free-bitcoin-sites-work/. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  6. BitcoinTalk thread 369. Official Bitcoin Unicode Character? 14 July 2010. Post 22160.
  7. BitcoinTalk thread 3311. More divisibility required - move the decimal point 10 February 2011. Post 46648.
  8. Bitcoin Wiki revision by theymos
  9. 9.0 9.1 BitcoinTalk thread 289475. satoshii 9 September 2013. Post 3112861.
  10. /r/Bitcoin thread 3egrjk. Satoshi symbol 24 July 2015. Self post.
  11. /r/Bitcoin thread 3egrjk. Satoshi symbol 24 July 2015. This post
  12. /r/Bitcoin thread 3egrjk. Satoshi symbol 24 July 2015. This post
  13. /r/Bitcoin thread 3egrjk. Satoshi symbol 24 July 2015. This post
  14. /r/Bitcoin thread 3egrjk. Satoshi symbol 24 July 2015. This post
  15. 15.0 15.1 /r/Bitcoin thread 3egrjk. Satoshi symbol 24 July 2015. This post
  16. 16.0 16.1 /r/Bitcoin thread 3egrjk. Satoshi symbol 24 July 2015. This post
  17. /r/Bitcoin thread 3egrjk. Satoshi symbol 24 July 2015. This post