John Carvalho, CEO of Synonym, proposed a controversial proposal named BIP 177 that calls for redefining the basic unit in the Bitcoin system, abolishing what is known as "satoshi" (sats) as the minimum unit, and replacing it with a model that defines one bitcoin as 100 million "bitcoins" – that is, using the integer as the basic unit of display instead of the customary decimal values.
This proposal has received public support from Jack Dorsey, the founder and CEO of Block, who mentioned it to over 6.4 million followers on platform X, sparking widespread interaction in the cryptocurrency community.
What does the proposal mean in practice?
So far, bitcoin has been dealt with by dividing it into small units known as satoshi (BTC = 100,000,000 sats).
However, the new proposal redefines this structure by eliminating the satoshi as a primary reference.
Instead of displaying the balance as "0.00010000 BTC", it will be displayed as "10,000 BTC" – intended to refer to the base units rather than the full bitcoin in its current traded form.
The motivations behind BIP 177:
According to Carvalho, the Bitcoin system internally operates on an integer number of units rather than a true decimal system, making the decimal point in current displays merely a human abstraction.
From here, he believes that adopting integers in user interfaces will benefit:
It simplifies daily calculations.
It reduces confusion for new users.
It shows the true design of bitcoin as embedded in its core protocol.
To clarify, the proposal does not add any new bitcoins, nor does it affect the value of balances or the total supply.
It is limited to the display method in wallets and platforms.
This proposal is one of the most fundamental changes proposed regarding user experience, and it may face resistance from the inherently conservative Bitcoin community, especially with the great popularity of the satoshi unit and its wide use in modern applications and wallets.
Moreover, the widespread adoption of such a change requires broad consensus among developers, wallet operators, and trading platforms.
In conclusion, while BIP 177 does not touch the technical structure or financial supply of bitcoin, its potential impact on how users perceive the currency makes it an intriguing proposal worth following.
With support from prominent names like Jack Dorsey, the discussion may shift from the satoshi as a unit to merely a symbolic past in the future of bitcoin based on digital clarity and simplicity.
