Dear Bitcoin Community,

I’d like to introduce a new BIP that aims to redefine the "bitcoin" unit to match Bitcoin’s fundamental integer-based accounting. Under this proposal, what has traditionally been called "1 BTC" (100,000,000 base units) would instead be represented directly as 100 million bitcoins, while the smallest indivisible unit becomes the unit of reference—simply "one bitcoin." This change removes the complexity and confusion of representing values with eight decimal places.

Key points:

• Redefines the "bitcoin" to the smallest indivisible unit tracked by the protocol.
• Eliminates the need for decimal points, aligning displayed values, and community understanding, with the integral nature of Bitcoin’s accounting.
• Simplifies mental arithmetic and reduces user confusion associated with decimal-based representations.
• Future-proofs the display format by preventing the need for new fractional denominations as Bitcoin adoption and valuation evolve.
• Has other various perks like mitigating unit bias, preventing miseducation about Bitcoin's divisibility.

This proposal also addresses alternative suggestions such as BIP 176 ("bits"), explaining why introducing another sub-unit still forces users to think in decimals and multiple denominations. By adopting an integer-only display, we can provide a clearer, more intuitive, and ultimately more durable representation of Bitcoin’s value.

Full draft BIP Text:
https://github.com/BitcoinAndLightningLayerSpecs/balls/blob/main/BIP%2021Q.md

Please share your comments here on the mailing list. I look forward to refining this proposal based on community input.

Thank you for your consideration,

John Carvalho
bitcoinerrorlog@gmail.com