John Carvalho, CEO of Bitcoin software company Synonym, has stirred controversy by proposing to abolish the term “satoshis” (or “sats”) – the smallest unit of bitcoin (BTC) – and rename it simply as “bitcoin”. The proposal was submitted last week via a Bitcoin Improvement Proposal (BIP).
What the BIP Says
In the BIP draft, Carvalho argues that each bitcoin is made up of 100 million sats, but this representation causes confusion and unnecessary cognitive overhead. “By redefining the smallest unit as ‘one bitcoin,’ this BIP aligns user perception with the protocol’s true nature,” he writes. “It reduces cognitive overhead, ensures users understand Bitcoin as counting discrete units, and ultimately improves educational clarity and user experience.”
Carvalho acknowledges the change would be radical, requiring more than a year for full transition. Interim measures, such as displaying both old and new configurations, would be used and eventually phased out once his recommendations are sufficiently adopted. Notably, Synonym’s Bitkit wallet already uses this proposed integer-only configuration, according to the BIP.
Why Now? The Price Reality
The proposal gains urgency as Bitcoin’s price soars, making it increasingly difficult for ordinary people to afford a whole bitcoin. If BTC reaches the million-dollar mark in a few years, as many predict, toggling between bitcoin and sats becomes even more inconvenient. However, for now, many bitcoiners disagree, some even ridiculing the idea.
Podcast host Stephan Livera posted on X: “Hey, I’ve got this great idea! Instead of one pizza with eight slices, let’s just call each slice a pizza. Just make sure when you go to order your pizza, you now order eight pizzas instead of one.” He ended with “Just my two pizzas,” a clear parody of Carvalho’s proposal.
Community Backlash and Future
The BIP has split the Bitcoin community: supporters say simplifying units lowers the barrier for newcomers, while opponents argue that “sat” honors Satoshi Nakamoto and has deep cultural roots. Changing it would require updating wallets, exchanges, payment systems, and countless user interfaces – a massive infrastructure overhaul. The BIP is still a draft and needs broad consensus to move forward. Whether or not it passes, it has already sparked a necessary conversation about Bitcoin’s unit system and its evolution toward mainstream adoption.