Summary This BIP proposes redefining the generally acknowledged "bitcoin" unit in order that what was beforehand generally known as the smallest indivisible unit turns into the first reference unit. Below this proposal, one bitcoin is outlined as that smallest unit, eliminating the necessity for decimal locations. By making the integral unit the usual measure, this BIP goals to simplify consumer comprehension, cut back confusion, and align on-chain values immediately with their displayed illustration.
Motivation The present conference defines one BTC as 100,000,000 of the smallest indivisible items. This illustration requires coping with eight decimal locations, which could be complicated and foster the misunderstanding that bitcoin is inherently decimal-based. In actuality, Bitcoin’s ledger represents values as integers of a smallest unit, and the decimal level is merely a human-imposed abstraction.
By redefining the smallest unit as "one bitcoin," this BIP aligns consumer notion with the protocol’s true nature. It reduces cognitive overhead, ensures customers perceive Bitcoin as counting discrete items, and in the end improves academic readability and consumer expertise.
Specification
Redefinition of the Unit: Internally, the smallest indivisible unit stays unchanged.
Traditionally, 1 BTC = 100,000,000 base items. Below this proposal, "1 bitcoin" equals that smallest unit.
What was beforehand known as "1 BTC" now corresponds to 100 million bitcoins beneath the brand new definition.
Terminology: The casual phrases "satoshi" or "sat" are deprecated. All references, interfaces, and documentation SHOULD check with the bottom integer unit merely as "bitcoin."
Show and Formatting: Functions SHOULD current values as complete integers with out decimals.
Instance: Outdated show: 0.00010000 BTC New show: 10000 BTC (or ₿10000)
Conversion: Ledger and consensus guidelines stay unchanged. Implementations adopting this customary MUST multiply beforehand displayed BTC quantities by 100,000,000 to find out the brand new integer illustration.
Rationale Usability: Integer-only shows simplify psychological arithmetic and cut back potential confusion or consumer error.
Protocol Alignment: The Bitcoin protocol inherently counts discrete items. Eradicating the factitious decimal format aligns consumer notion with Bitcoin’s precise integral design.
Instructional Readability: Presenting integers ensures newcomers don’t mistakenly assume that Bitcoin’s nature is decimal-based. It conveys Bitcoin’s true design from the beginning.
Future-Proofing: Adopting the smallest unit as the first measure ensures a constant customary that may scale easily as Bitcoin adoption grows.
Addressing Various Approaches Refuting the "Bits" Proposal (BIP 176)
Another suggestion (BIP 176) proposes utilizing "bits" to signify one-millionth of a bitcoin (100 satoshis). Whereas this reduces the variety of decimal locations in sure contexts, it fails to completely handle the core points our BIP goals to unravel:
Persistent Decimal Mindset: Utilizing "bits" nonetheless retains a layered decimal strategy, requiring customers to assume by way of a number of denominations (BTC and bits). This shifts complexity somewhat than eliminating it.
Inconsistent Person Expertise: Customers should study to toggle between BTC for big quantities and bits for small quantities. As an alternative of offering a unified view of worth, it fragments the consumer expertise.
Incomplete Alignment with the Protocol’s Nature: The "bits" proposal doesn’t realign the displayed worth with the integral nature of Bitcoin’s ledger. It continues to depend on fractional items, masking the basic integer-based accounting that Bitcoin employs.
Not Completely Future-Proof: Although "bits" could simplify sure worth ranges, future circumstances might demand further denominations or scaling changes. Our integral strategy resolves this drawback solely by making the smallest unit the usual measure, avoiding future fragmentation.
In essence, whereas BIP 176 makes an attempt to simplify small quantity representations, it solely replaces one decimal illustration with one other. By redefining "bitcoin" because the smallest indivisible unit, this BIP eliminates reliance on decimal fractions and separate denominations solely, providing a clearer, extra intuitive, and in the end extra sturdy resolution.
Backward Compatibility No consensus guidelines are altered, and on-chain knowledge stays unchanged. Variations come up solely in show codecs:
For Builders: Replace GUIs, APIs, and documentation to current values as integers. Take away references to fractional BTC.
For Customers: The precise worth of holdings doesn’t change. Transitional measures, reminiscent of twin shows or explanatory tooltips, can ease the adjustment interval. Safety Issues
A brief-term threat of confusion exists as customers adapt to the brand new illustration. Customers accustomed to decimals could misread preliminary shows. To mitigate this: Supply twin shows and tooltips through the transition.
Present clear academic supplies and coordinated messaging.
Use alerts or confirmations in purposes if enter values seem unexpectedly massive or small.
Over time, confusion will subside, leaving an easier, extra intuitive understanding of Bitcoin’s integral values.
Reference Implementation Some wallets, reminiscent of Bitkit, have efficiently adopted integer-only shows, demonstrating the feasibility of this strategy. Transitional options—like displaying each outdated and new codecs side-by-side—might help easy the transition.
Check Vectors Outdated: 1.00000000 BTC → New: 100000000 BTC (or ₿100000000) Outdated: 0.00010000 BTC → New: 10000 BTC (or ₿10000) Outdated: 0.00500000 BTC → New: 500000 BTC (or ₿500000)
All previously fractional representations now immediately correspond to whole-number multiples of the smallest unit.
Implementation Timeline Section 1 (3-6 months): Introduce the idea, present twin shows and academic supplies.
Section 2 (6-12 months): Distinguished companies undertake integer-only shows by default.
Section 3 (12+ months): Integer illustration turns into customary. Documentation and consumer guides not reference decimal-based codecs. Conclusion
Redefining the "bitcoin" unit because the smallest indivisible unit and eradicating decimal-based representations simplifies comprehension and aligns displayed values with the protocol’s integral accounting. Whereas a transition interval could also be vital, the long-term advantages embrace clearer communication, decreased confusion, and a extra correct understanding of Bitcoin’s basic design.
Copyright This BIP is licensed beneath CC0-1.0.
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