Have you ever tried explaining Bitcoin amounts like 0.00004700 BTC to a friend? They usually get confused — and that’s exactly what BIP-176 tried to solve.
Proposed by Jimmy Song back in 2017, BIP-176 suggests using “bits” as a standard unit, where:
1 bit = 100 sats = 0.00000100 BTC
The goal? Better UX and mental clarity when dealing with small amounts — especially for payments, tips, and onboarding new users.
💡 Why it matters:
“I just bought a coffee for 2,800 bits” sounds a lot friendlier than “0.00002800 BTC.”
Fiat systems already use smaller denominations (cents), so “bits” would feel more familiar.
Could help onboard more people into Bitcoin with less friction.
🤔 Why it didn’t catch on (yet):
By now, “sats” are deeply ingrained in Bitcoin culture.
Lightning wallets and P2P apps default to sats.
Introducing a second unit might create confusion rather than clarity.
Still, as more people join Bitcoin and start stacking, maybe it’s worth revisiting?
What do you think? Should we revive BIP-176 and start using “bits”? Or are sats here to stay?
👇 Drop your thoughts.