Author: Brayden Lindrea, CoinTelegraph; Translated by: Deng Tong, Jinse Finance
A recent proposal aimed at changing Bitcoin's base unit to make it easier to understand as a payment tool has faced opposition. Critics argue that Bitcoin's 'satoshis' are no more confusing than the 'cents' in dollars.
Bitcoin developer John Carvalho proposed Bitcoin Improvement Proposal 177 on April 23, which aims to eliminate the concept of 'satoshis' (1 bitcoin equals 100 million satoshis) and effectively split Bitcoin's fixed supply of 21 million into 21 trillion units.
Previously, Bitcoin developer Jimmy Song proposed creating 'bits' in 2017, representing one millionth of a bitcoin. However, Carvalho stated that Song's approach still requires Bitcoin users to think in decimals and that it 'shifts complexity rather than eliminates it.'
Block Inc. CEO Jack Dorsey is one of the advocates for this change, stating in an X post on May 18 that satoshis can be too confusing for newcomers.
Dorsey said, "Bitcoin's bits are better, and Bitcoin itself is the best."
Dorsey mentioned a discussion on the topic in December 2024, when Stevie Lee, product lead at Bitcoin infrastructure company Spiral, pointed out that not many people understand or care about what a 'satoshi' is.
"Everyone knows Bitcoin, but nobody knows satoshis; people just want to send and receive Bitcoin," Lee said, recalling past conversations when people thought satoshis were a completely new token unrelated to Bitcoin.
He added that the Bitcoin community need not worry too much about this change, as they know the underlying economic mechanisms of Bitcoin will remain unchanged.
Swan Bitcoin CEO Cory Klippsten and Byte Federal Product Director Michelle Weekley are among those opposed to this change.
Weekley stated on X: "People understand that one dollar equals several cents, and they also understand that one Bitcoin equals several satoshis."
Self-proclaimed Bitcoin advisor Magdalena Gronowska claimed that this change could lead some to believe that Bitcoin's price could suddenly plummet from its current level of around $100,000 due to a 'massive expansion in supply.'
Zaprite Business Development Director Parker Lewis believes SAT is easier to understand. Source: Parker Lewis
Bitcoin's founder is open to this.
Robin Linus, founder of the Bitcoin Virtual Machine (BitVM), emphasized that even Bitcoin's anonymous creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, would be willing to change the way Bitcoin units are displayed to improve usability.
"If handling small numbers is bothersome, we can change the display position of the decimal point," Satoshi said in a post in February 2010, after which he disappeared the following year.
"The amount is the same, just conventional," Satoshi added.
Comments made by Satoshi Nakamoto regarding changes to the base unit of Bitcoin in February 2010. Source: Bitcointalk
Since the Taproot upgrade in November 2021, the Bitcoin network has not implemented any improvement proposals, which aimed to enhance Bitcoin's speed, efficiency, and privacy.
