What is a 'Satoshi'?

Question

I am aware that Satoshi Nakamoto is the author of the paper that originated Bitcoin and the creator of the original bitcoin client. However, I often hear the term Satoshi as if it was a monetary unit.

What is a Satoshi?

Michael McGowan · Accepted Answer

A Satoshi is the smallest fraction of a Bitcoin that can currently be sent: 0.00000001 BTC, that is, a hundredth of a millionth BTC. In the future, however, the protocol may be updated to allow further subdivisions, should they be needed.

Further examples of units

1 BTC = 1,000 mBTC (millibitcoin)
1 BTC = 1,000,000 μBTC (microbitcoin)
1 BTC = 100,000,000 Satoshis
1 mBTC = 100,000 Satoshis
1 μBTC (microbitcoin) = 100 Satoshis

Anatoli Babenia · Answer

If you need formula
108 Satoshis == 1 BTC
or in Python
def btc2satoshi(btc: float) -> int:
  return int(btc * 10**8)

BTC = 1.0
print(btc2satoshi(BTC))

capecoralhobo · Answer

A Satoshi is 0.00000001 BTC and currently the smallest transaction unit.

If a Satoshi was equivalent to one penny, a microBTC would be equivalent to one dollar, and one BTC would be equivalent to 1,000,000 dollars.

With one BTC on the order of $1,000 USD, a Satoshi is equivalent to .001 penny

Aka Gambit · Answer

1 mBTC  = 0.001 BTC

1 mBTC  = 100,000 Satoshis

1 uBTC  = 0.000001 BTC

1 μBTC  = 100 Satoshis

1 Satoshi       = 0.00000001 BTC

100 Satoshis    = 0.000001 BTC

1,000 Satoshis  = 0.00001 BTC

10,000 Satoshis = 0.0001 BTC

1 BTC = 100,000,000 Satoshis

1 BTC = 1,000,000 μBTC

1 BTC = 1000 mBTC

cdnbcguy · Answer

A Satoshi is a one hundred millionth of a Bitcoin.

Bitcoins are delimited to eight decimal places so even if Bitcoins are worth $1,000,000 each, you can still do penny transactions.

What is a 'Satoshi'?

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