Sats: Everything to Know
By Beluga Research August 28, 2023

Summary
- Cryptocurrency satoshis, or sats, are the smallest units of bitcoin
- Sats allow for precise transactions regardless of Bitcoin's price fluctuations
- This offers versatility, enabling participation in the global economy, low-cost transactions and innovative use cases within the Bitcoin ecosystem
- A user can acquire sats through exchanges, direct purchases, mining, tasks and receiving them as tips
Overview
Cryptocurrency satoshis, or sats, are the smallest units of bitcoin. Sats enable microtransactions and enhance Bitcoin's divisibility. There are 100 million sats in one Bitcoin. To put it another way, a sat is equal to 0.00000001 Bitcoin.
Sats are named for the individual or group known as Satoshi Nakamoto, which created the Bitcoin network. Although Bitcoin itself can be divided into smaller units, sats provide a more granular representation of value. They enable users to transact with precision and flexibility. Sats enable microtransactions and stacking over time. Challenges for this unit of Bitcoin include perception of value, complexity, transaction fees, volatility and limited acceptance.
A Brief History
At first, Bitcoin's value was measured in whole numbers. The smallest unit was one Bitcoin (BTC). As the popularity of Bitcoin grew, its price rose. It became clear that using whole bitcoins for everyday transactions could be impractical. The administrators of the Bitcoin platform resolved this issue by introducing the concept of sats.
Sats: Everything to Know
Sats enable the use of Bitcoin in everyday scenarios. One of the main advantages of using sats is their versatility. Sats offer the ability to represent both small and large values. They make it possible to transact with minimal transaction fees. This is particularly beneficial in regions where traditional financial systems are inaccessible and/or unreliable. Using sats allows individuals to participate in the global economy. They can send remittances and engage in commerce without intermediaries or exorbitant fees.
The divisibility of sats opens up new possibilities for creative use cases in the Bitcoin ecosystem. Developers can leverage sats to design innovative applications. These include micro-rewards for online content, pay-per-use services and fractional ownership of assets. The flexibility offered by sats fosters a vibrant and dynamic ecosystem. This encourages experimentation and drives the adoption of Bitcoin.
Getting Started
To acquire sats, crypto investors have a few options. They can buy bitcoin and convert it into sats, purchase sats directly from a supporting platform or earn sats through activities like mining or completing tasks on specific platforms. They can also receive sats as part of transactions or as tips for their work or content.
Unique Aspects
- Sats enable microtransactions . They allow for the exchange of very small amounts of value. This feature is particularly significant in emerging economies where small transactions can have a substantial impact on individuals' financial well-being. Before sats were developed, such transactions were impractical. This is because they incurred high fees.
- Potential for stacking and accumulating over time. Users can acquire sats in fractions, which allows them to accumulate a significant amount of the unit over a long period. The concept of building wealth with small units over time aligns with the philosophy of dollar-cost averaging. The concept centers on making consistent small investments that yield substantial returns over time. Stacking sats helps individuals participate in the potential appreciation of bitcoin. They mitigate the risks associated with large one-time investments.
- Introduction of the concept of sat stacking or sats stacking services. These services allow users to automatically accumulate sats by rounding up everyday purchases to the nearest sat. Alternatively, they can allocate a percentage of their income towards sats. The approach simplifies the process of regularly acquiring sats. It harnesses the power of compounding over time.
Advantages
- Accessibility. Sats allow for greater accessibility to bitcoin as an investment. With the high price of a whole bitcoin, sats enable individuals to own a fraction. This makes bitcoin more affordable and attainable for a wider range of investors.
- Microtransactions. Sats are ideal for microtransactions. The divisibility of bitcoin into sats enables an easy, cost-effective transfer of small value amounts. This is particularly beneficial for online platforms, content creators and businesses. Such entities frequently rely on microtransactions to monetize their services.
- Psychological Impact. Sats provide a psychological advantage. They allow users to think in terms of smaller units. Instead of dealing with the intimidating price of a whole Bitcoin, individuals can focus on accumulating sats. This can be more manageable and encourage regular saving and investing.
- Global Currency. Sats, being a unit of bitcoin, function as a global currency. They transcend geographical boundaries. They can be sent and received instantly across the world. This makes sats a powerful tool for cross-border transactions, remittances and financial inclusion. This is especially true in regions with limited access to traditional banking services.
- Saturation of Supply. With a total supply of 21 million bitcoins, the availability of sats ensures that there are enough units to accommodate a large number of users. As Bitcoin adoption grows, the divisibility of sats guarantees that there will be sufficient units to facilitate widespread adoption. The low value of sats is a guard against the concern of scarcity.
Disadvantages
- Perception of Value. The use of sats may create a perception of diminished value compared to whole bitcoins. Some individuals may subconsciously devalue sats due to their smaller unit size. Such users may overlook sats' potential for growth and long-term value.
- Complexity. Sats offer benefits in terms of accessibility, but their use can introduce complexity for newcomers to the cryptocurrency space. Understanding the concept of sats and their conversion to bitcoin requires a basic understanding of decimals and fractions. This is unfamiliar for some users.
- Transaction Fees. Sats enable microtransactions but are subject to transaction fees. As the number of sats per transaction increases, so does the cost of fees. This can be a concern for frequent microtransactions. The accumulated fees can add up over time.
- Volatility. Just like bitcoin, sats are subject to price volatility. This presents opportunities for profit but also the risk of drop in value. Users that hold sats may experience gains and losses depending on market conditions. Volatility can impact their overall investment strategy.
- Limited Acceptance. The acceptance of Bitcoin has grown. Yet many users and systems still do not accept sats as a standalone unit of value. Many platforms and merchants still primarily display prices in fiat currencies or whole bitcoins. This limits sats' recognition and their direct use for everyday transactions.