What is a satoshi?
The smallest piece of a bitcoin, and why you'll see it everywhere.
A satoshi, or "sat," is the smallest unit of bitcoin: one hundred-millionth of a BTC (0.00000001 BTC). There are 100,000,000 satoshis in one bitcoin. It's named after Bitcoin's pseudonymous creator, Satoshi Nakamoto.
The numbers
| Bitcoin | Satoshis |
|---|---|
| 1 BTC | 100,000,000 sats |
| 0.1 BTC | 10,000,000 sats |
| 0.01 BTC | 1,000,000 sats |
| 0.001 BTC | 100,000 sats |
| 0.00001 BTC | 1,000 sats |
| 0.00000001 BTC | 1 sat |
To convert, multiply BTC by 100,000,000, or divide sats by 100,000,000. For the dollar value, divide sats by 100,000,000 and multiply by the bitcoin price.
Worked example
Say bitcoin is $80,000 (an example figure, not today's price). One sat is then $80,000 ÷ 100,000,000 = $0.0008, so $1 buys 1,250 sats and $10 buys 12,500 sats. If you own 250,000 sats, that's 0.0025 BTC, worth $200 at that price. Use the BTC ↔ sats converter for exact figures, and the live Bitcoin price.
Why people use sats
- Small amounts read better. "5,000 sats" is easier than 0.00005 BTC, and it reminds people you don't need a whole bitcoin.
- Fees. Bitcoin network fees are quoted in sats per virtual byte (sat/vB). See transaction fees.
- Payments. Lightning Network apps and tipping often show balances in sats, and Lightning can even track thousandths of a sat (millisatoshis) internally.
Common mistakes
- Counting zeros wrong. 0.0001 BTC is 10,000 sats, not 1,000. Paste amounts into a converter instead of retyping them.
- Mixing up units in an app. Some wallets let you switch between BTC, sats and dollars. Check which one is showing before you send.
- "Free sats" offers. Apps and sites promising free bitcoin for tasks or for "verifying" your wallet are often scams. Never share your seed phrase to claim anything.
Frequently asked questions
How many satoshis are in a bitcoin?
100,000,000 (one hundred million).
How much is 1 satoshi worth?
The bitcoin price divided by 100 million. At $80,000 per BTC, one sat is $0.0008.
Is a satoshi a separate coin?
No. It's just a unit of bitcoin, like cents to a dollar.
Who is Satoshi Nakamoto?
The unknown person or group who created Bitcoin. See who created Bitcoin.
What is a sat/vB?
Satoshis per virtual byte: how Bitcoin fees are priced, based on a transaction's size, not the amount sent.
Where to next
Sources
Written for beginners and checked against the sources listed. Last reviewed November 4, 2026. This page is educational and is not financial, tax or legal advice. How we write and check pages.