Satoshi (sats)
The smallest unit of Bitcoin: 1 satoshi (‘sat’ for short) equals 0.00000001 BTC, so one bitcoin consists of 100 million sats. The unit is named after Bitcoin’s creator, Satoshi Nakamoto.
Alsosatssatsatoshismillisatoshi
| Amount | in BTC |
|---|---|
| 1 sat | 0.00000001 BTC |
| 100,000 sats | 0.001 BTC |
| 1,000,000 sats | 0.01 BTC |
| 100,000,000 sats | 1 BTC |
The blockchain stores all amounts in satoshis; BTC is just how they are displayed for humans. On the Lightning NetworkGlossaryLightning NetworkA second layer on top of Bitcoin for fast, low-cost payments. Amounts move off the blockchain via payment channels; only opening and closing a channel ends up in a block as a normal transaction.On the learning path: Stage 1 · Step 3 – How does Bitcoin work? →In the glossary →, some amounts are calculated in millisatoshis – thousandths of a sat.[1]
Why this matters to you
You don’t have to buy a whole bitcoin. At an example price of $80,000 per BTC, $50 gets you 0.000625 BTC, or 62,500 sats – before fees (own calculation). At the current price of $85,533, one dollar buys 1,169 sats.
For small amounts, ‘21,000 sats’ is easier to read than ‘0.00021 BTC’. Most wallets let you switch the display unit. To convert amounts, use the sats converter.
Related terms
These terms are closely connected.
- This termSatoshi(sats)
- BitcoinDigital money without a central authority: thousands of independent computers check every transfer against the same open rules. The supply is permanently capped at just under 21 million BTC.
- Stack satsCommunity slang for regularly accumulating small amounts of bitcoin, counted in satoshis (sats) – usually via a savings plan and regardless of the price. 1 BTC is 100 million sats.
- 21 million (Bitcoin’s supply cap)Under the network’s rules, there will never be more than just under 21 million bitcoin. The cap follows from the issuance schedule: new bitcoin per block halve every 210,000 blocks until none are created, around 2140.
- Lightning NetworkA second layer on top of Bitcoin for fast, low-cost payments. Amounts move off the blockchain via payment channels; only opening and closing a channel ends up in a block as a normal transaction.
- Satoshi NakamotoPseudonym of the person or group who invented Bitcoin. Satoshi published the whitepaper in 2008, launched the network in 2009 and withdrew in 2011. Who is behind the name remains unknown to this day.
Explained in depth
These articles go into more detail:
- Stage 1 · Step 4Sats & units1 BTC = 100 million sats: why you don’t have to buy a whole bitcoin, how to convert between dollars, BTC and sats, and what to watch for with small amounts.
- Stage 4 · Step 4Setting up a savings planHow a Bitcoin savings plan works, which interval and amount suit you, what it costs and how to set one up step by step.
More from „Basics“
Sources1 sources · 1 publishers
The superscript numbers in the text refer to these sources.
- Satoshi (unit) – Bitcoin Wiki (accessed 28/09/2026)
This entry is for education only and is not investment, tax or legal advice.