10 December 2025
It looks like we are in for a major overhaul in the world of Bitcoin. The BIP 177 proposal, introduced by Synonym CEO John Carvalho, aims to replace satoshis, the usual basic unit of Bitcoin. One Bitcoin would then be equal to 100.000.000 Bitcoins, which would not only bring more clarity, but also promote the usability and scalability of the cryptocurrency. This is an innovation that could transform the Bitcoin ecosystem!
Bitcoin, the world's largest cryptocurrency, is about to make a significant upgrade to its base unit. Under this new system, the familiar term "satoshis" will disappear, meaning that one Bitcoin will now be represented as a single base unit. This means that 1 BTC will be equal to 100.000.000 Bitcoins. This proposal by BIP 177 has already been brought to the attention of influential Bitcoiner Jack Dorsey to his 6,4 million followers on X.
This initiative aims to clarify a common misunderstanding about the Bitcoin economy. Although one Bitcoin is currently defined as 100.000.000 base units, Bitcoin has never been essentially decimal-based. Bitcoin’s digital ledger represents values as integral units. Decimals are merely a human invention, as the proposal itself explains.
The technical details of the proposal include the elimination of satoshis. The currency abbreviation “BTC” remains unchanged and still stands for 100.000.000 base units. This means that 0.00010000 Bitcoin would be converted to ₿10.000 or 10.000 Bitcoins. The symbols ₿ can be used for the new Bitcoins (base units), but this is optional, as described in the proposal.
The purpose of this change is not only to promote educational clarity. By representing values as integers, it reduces the chance that newcomers will misunderstand the decimal-based nature of Bitcoin. This emphasizes the true intent of Bitcoin from the beginning. Additionally, integer representations simplify mental arithmetic and reduce the chance of confusion or user error.
One comforting thought: the total amount of Bitcoin (BTC) in circulation will not change as a result of this upgrade. The value of existing assets will remain the same. Workarounds such as dual displays or informative tooltips may be implemented to ease the transition.
What exactly is BIP 177?
BIP 177 is a proposal that proposes the abolition of satoshis and aims to represent Bitcoin as a single basic unit.
Does this change affect the number of Bitcoins in circulation?
No, the total amount of Bitcoin remains unchanged, and the value of existing holdings does not change.
How will the transition to this new system take place?
Temporary measures, such as duplicate displays or tooltips, may be taken to help users adjust to Bitcoin's new presentation.
Imagine that instead of having to stretch your Bitcoin by millions of decimal places, you could simply say, “I have ten!” This is not just a technical change, but an opportunity to make Bitcoin more accessible to everyone. Get inspired by this innovation and think about what this could mean for your cryptocurrency experience! The future of Bitcoin is wide open, what will you do with it?
Bitcoin (BTC)
Ethereum (ETH)
XRP (XRP)
