Satoshi (unit)

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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.[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.

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.

History

The value of a bitcoin in satoshi was decided by Satoshi Nakamoto to be 100 million no later than November 2008.[2]

On November 15, 2010, ribuck proposed that the one hundredth of a bitcoin (0.01 BTC) be called a Satoshi.[3] Four months later he instead suggested that the one hundred millionth unit be called an austrian or a satoshi.[4] The name satoshi caught on, and was widely adopted thereafter.[5]

Usage

Plural

Traditionally, the plural form has been simply satoshi,[6] 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,[7] satoshisa,[7] or satoshi-tachi.[8]

Symbol

Satoshi is sometimes abbreviated to sat or s.

The Japanese character シ ("shi") has been proposed as a potential currency symbol for the satoshi.[9] The Katakana symbol サ ("sa") has also been proposed, as it looks more reminiscent of a currency symbol.[10][11] The circled shi (㋛) has been suggested to disambiguate the symbol from the character,[12][13][14] as it is synonymous with death.[14][15] Additionally, the Hiragana shi (し) is a suggestion.[15][16]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 What is a 'Satoshi'? - Bitcoin Stack Exchange
  2. BitcoinTalk thread 382374. Bitcoin source from November 2008. 23 December 2013.
  3. BitcoinTalk thread 369. Official Bitcoin Unicode Character? 14 July 2010. Post 22160.
  4. BitcoinTalk thread 3311. More divisibility required - move the decimal point 10 February 2011. Post 46648.
  5. BitcoinTalk thread 407422. How did “satoshi” become the name of the base unit? 9 January 2014. Post 4415850.
  6. Bitcoin Wiki revision by theymos
  7. 7.0 7.1 BitcoinTalk thread 289475. satoshii 9 September 2013. Post 3112861.
  8. japan-guide.com forum thread about plurals
  9. /r/Bitcoin thread 3egrjk. Satoshi symbol 24 July 2015. Self post.
  10. /r/Bitcoin thread 3egrjk. Satoshi symbol 24 July 2015. This 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. 14.0 14.1 /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. /r/Bitcoin thread 3egrjk. Satoshi symbol 24 July 2015. This post