Proposal to add Bitcoin symbol to Unicode

[RealBitcoin]

Great idea to include Bitcoin symbol in Unicode 

as long as it does not became a trend with every altcoin out there, and i think this is partially the reason why it was not added yet, i'm supporting this also

Ok but other altcoin barely have any support, bitcoin will be our main currency, and with a 3.5 billion market cap I think it deserves a unicode sign.

I think bitcoin has reached the point to be considered a real currency, so i hope they will implement it soon!

[1714170890]

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[1714170890]

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[jt byte]

Great idea to include Bitcoin symbol in Unicode 

as long as it does not became a trend with every altcoin out there, and i think this is partially the reason why it was not added yet, i'm supporting this also

Ok but other altcoin barely have any support, bitcoin will be our main currency, and with a 3.5 billion market cap I think it deserves a unicode sign.

I think bitcoin has reached the point to be considered a real currency, so i hope they will implement it soon!

It deserves but if it is needed to sign any document who will do that? we know that satoshi has been disappeared?

[RealBitcoin]

Great idea to include Bitcoin symbol in Unicode 

as long as it does not became a trend with every altcoin out there, and i think this is partially the reason why it was not added yet, i'm supporting this also

Ok but other altcoin barely have any support, bitcoin will be our main currency, and with a 3.5 billion market cap I think it deserves a unicode sign.

I think bitcoin has reached the point to be considered a real currency, so i hope they will implement it soon!

It deserves but if it is needed to sign any document who will do that? we know that satoshi has been disappeared?

Bitcoin foundation? Or the MIT labs that took over the bitcoin development.

Since bitcoin doesnt have any owner i dont think anyone is eligible to sign it. Who signed the document to include the letter "a" in the alphabet?

[Luqman]

Good work indeed mate.. Well I'll like to see the Bitcoin symbol on unicode

[jt byte]

Great idea to include Bitcoin symbol in Unicode 

as long as it does not became a trend with every altcoin out there, and i think this is partially the reason why it was not added yet, i'm supporting this also

Ok but other altcoin barely have any support, bitcoin will be our main currency, and with a 3.5 billion market cap I think it deserves a unicode sign.

I think bitcoin has reached the point to be considered a real currency, so i hope they will implement it soon!

It deserves but if it is needed to sign any document who will do that? we know that satoshi has been disappeared?

Bitcoin foundation? Or the MIT labs that took over the bitcoin development.

Since bitcoin doesnt have any owner i dont think anyone is eligible to sign it. Who signed the document to include the letter "a" in the alphabet?

I don't know about the alphabet as it is old, but i think just in case if it is required who will sign as there is no owner.

[runpaint]

I read an article by a graphic designer who wanted to use the Thai Baht symbol for Bitcoin because it was supposedly easier to write, and because it was already in Unicode.

Then there's this:
http://bitcoinsymbol.org/

Maybe you could include examples of people using ฿ or Ƀ, showing that there is already a need for the symbol and that people must resort to using improper Unicode symbols as substitutes.


This Wikipedia article states that people are already using Ƀ in text because there is no Bitcoin symbol in Unicode:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C9%83


An entire article about the Bitcoin symbol and Unicode:
http://www.coindesk.com/industry-website-advocate-bitcoins-unicode-symbol/


This article discusses optional uses of Unicode to compensate for the fact that Unicode doesn't have a Bitcoin symbol:
https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Bitcoin_symbol

The fact that people have already created several substitutes shows that not only are they attempting to use the symbol in text, but also that there is a widespread need for the symbol.


A discussion from reddit:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/22loxd/%C6%80_not_the_new_bitcoin_symbol/


A request for a Bitcoin symbol to be used as text, and someone offers a custom font:
http://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/21382/plain-text-for-the-bitcoin-symbol



And this article says that Unicode has been rejecting the Bitcoin symbol since 2011.
https://medium.com/down-the-hashrabbit-hole/to-or-not-to-4e952961f41



They're making a distinction between people using the symbol and people trying to use the symbol, which isn't right.

Any use of a text symbol to represent Bitcoin should count as a use of the symbol in running text.  Obviously people can't use the Unicode symbol in running text, because there is no Unicode symbol yet.


But this forum does have a Bitcoin symbol which is used in running text, exactly like $ or £ is used.
Check these out, there are probably thousands of examples just within this one website:

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Additional information:

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Description:

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Payment methods accepted:

Bitcoin

Happy bidding!

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Bid  0.052BTC

Bid  0.052BTC

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Avatar:

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[maku]

So far bitcoin does not have unified symbol and it lacks unified currency abbreviation too. I am surprised that Bitcoin symbol BTCis not used as unicode symbol yet. But then again, do we have to wait some time before currency will be recognized to the point it will be possible to add its symbol to the unicode table? Maybe it is too soon for bitcoin to has unicode symbol?

[RealBitcoin]

I don't know about the alphabet as it is old, but i think just in case if it is required who will sign as there is no owner.

Yes but if there is no intellectual property claim on in then why would they need anybody to sign it?

Its its really important then for formalities those 2 institutions could assume representative roles, but otherwise it is a public domain entity, so it's the same as letter "a".

[runpaint]

Examples of the Bitcoin symbol being used in commerce exactly like the dollar symbol:

   










And that's about all I found so far.

We need to send requests to Coindesk, Cointelegraph, BitcoinMagazine, and see if they have any examples or if they can start using a Bitcoin symbol instead of BTC in their articles.  I couldn't find anything in any of their articles, but I didn't know exactly where to look. 

[manselr]

The next step is reaching worldwide keyboard manufacturers so a BTC symbol is added on keyboards next to filthy $ and € etc. If we managed to pull that one off then we'll know we are all already rich (that's if you are already holding double figure BTCs in your wallet).
Imagine being a pioneer that had a currency before it was added in keyboards worldwide. You know you are a early investor when that happens :p

[runpaint]

If Unicode adds BTC, a small company could sell a keyboard with a BTC key and market it to Bitcoin users.  I'd pay .2BTC for one.

[kens]

Examples of the Bitcoin symbol being used in commerce exactly like the dollar symbol:

Thanks, runpaint for finding those examples! I'll add them to the proposal.

Ken

[Sarthak]

If Unicode adds BTC, a small company could sell a keyboard with a BTC key and market it to Bitcoin users.  I'd pay .2BTC for one.

Now that's something creative 

I support this project! Is there something I/the community can do to support the project?

[RealBitcoin]

If Unicode adds BTC, a small company could sell a keyboard with a BTC key and market it to Bitcoin users.  I'd pay .2BTC for one.

Now that's something creative 

I support this project! Is there something I/the community can do to support the project?

Perhaps he should put his bitcoin address up for donation, or create an account at https://www.changetip.com

If he suceeds he really deserves some donations.

[runpaint]

Examples of the Bitcoin symbol being used in commerce exactly like the dollar symbol:

Thanks, runpaint for finding those examples! I'll add them to the proposal.

Ken

I was just about to point out that one of those examples is in Dutch, which shows that Bitcoin isn't just a logo used by one group.  It's worldwide.

But when I came back to add that, I had a better idea to show the widespread usage of BTC in running text.  Again with links for easy reference:


Spanish:

Este anuncio está orientado principalmente a Ecuador y otros países de América Latina.

Tengo el dominio ecua.co (una versión corta de ecuador.com).
Está registrado en Namesilo.com, registrado en el 2013 y expira el 31 de mayo del 2016 (whois).
Lo puedo transferir gratis a otra cuenta de Namesilo, o a otro registrador con cualquier valor a costo del comprador.

Como prueba de propiedad me pueden enviar algún código a info@Ecua.co y lo publicaré aquí o lo enviaré por MP.

El precio es de BTC0.2, algo negociable. Podemos usar escrow.

Croatian:

Zovem se Kristijan, dolazim iz Vinkovaca

nick ne trebam previše objašnjavati

Bitcoinom sam se počeo baviti u 8. mjesecu prošle godine, nedavno napunio 18 godina, po zanimanju mehatroničar

Nemam posao (očito ) jer se još uvijek školujem, sa internet zaradom sam počeo davno a bitcoinom još sa faucetima itd.

Nikada nisam ništa uplatio na net (reinvest zarađenog je druga stvar ), a danas sam došao do toga da kada bih povukao sve investicije imao bih ravno 4BTC

Očekujem upisati filozofski faks ili otići u Njemačku raditi dok ne skupim neki kapital za pametnu investiciju u matici zemlji

Mislim da je dosta

German:

[/url]

Greek:

Θεϊκό!
Mε Alpha Bank Enter MasterCard (debit) έδωσα 100 € και πήρα 0,46649 BTC, δηλ. ισoτιμία 214 έναντι 204 €/BTC διεθνώς.
Δέχεται Visa και MasterCard, αλλά όχι American Express.
Συμφέρει, συνυπoλoγίζoντας ταχύτητα, ευκoλία, καπέλα και fees ανταλλακτηρίων.

Chinese:

3.5比特币的英雄帐户

它拥有超过600的活动，并具有积极的绿色信任

3.5 BTC

Indonesian:

siang teman-teman semua, adakah disini yang buka service jasa download ?
mungkin yang RDP nya nganggur hehe

ane mau minta tolong agan downloadt'in sesuatu ( di PM saja biar saya tahu siapa aja yang minat)
dan setelah itu di upload ke torent atau kalau bisa singgle link yang support IDM biar saya download

mgkin ada skitar 300-400 link (bukan link vok*p)
size file skitar 60mb-150mb

saya kasih agan reward 0.015 BTC

pembayaran di lakukan setelah saya selesei mendownloadnya jika kurang percaya
BTC akan saya titipkan kepada escrow jika memang ada yang benar-benar minat dan sanggup mengerjakanya

[kens]

I was just about to point out that one of those examples is in Dutch, which shows that Bitcoin isn't just a logo used by one group.  It's worldwide.

But when I came back to add that, I had a better idea to show the widespread usage of BTC in running text.  Again with links for easy reference:

Hi runpaint. I already have some multi-lingual running text examples in the proposal, but you've found some new languages, so thanks for finding them. The Greek was is especially interesting - I had looked for one in Greek, but didn't find it. I'll add some of your examples to the document.

At this point, there are probably enough examples, so you don't need to spend more time looking.

Thanks again for your help,
Ken

[TheRealSteve]

I've mostly been on the Reddit end of this discussion, may be good for reference:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/3j0261/help_me_get_the_bitcoin_symbol_added_to_unicode/
https://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/3jmg9h/proposal_to_add_the_bitcoin_symbol_to_unicode_pdf/

The next step is reaching worldwide keyboard manufacturers so a BTC symbol is added on keyboards

A lot of these steps would follow more naturally from the inclusion of a symbol in the Unicode specification.  I'm not sure keyboards would be a priority, though obviously there would be a market for keycaps  I think one of the first steps would be mostly to approach developers of popular online editors to include an option to insert the Bitcoin symbol (if not readily available through a generic 'insert special character').  The W3C should also be approached to add e.g. &bitcoin; or &btc; or &xbt; (depending on argument) as a parallel to the € HTML entity.  These are quite separate processes though

Interesting idea, and a needed one i believe, because other than here on btctalk, we can't make btc symbol right now.

It's actually a lot easier to insert the symbol than many people think.  We've added it to the Bitcoin Wiki in the same manner as has been done on BitcoinTalk, for example.

I have added a section on inserting the Bitcoin symbol to the Bitcoin Wiki.  There's at least 3 approaches that are all reasonable to implement (if anybody knows of more, shoot me a PM or edit the Wiki directly; don't want to clutter up Ken's thread).  Some of it could even be automated with a script (run through document, search&replace "BTC" with the symbol).

Having it included in the Unicode specification does mean that all of these workarounds can, eventually (keep in mind that fonts will need updating), be dropped in favor of just inserting the symbol, fitting with surrounding text in every which way, which is much more desirable.

[runpaint]

I can't tell you how many times I used to wish there was an IBM groupmark symbol.

Hi runpaint. I already have some multi-lingual running text examples in the proposal, but you've found some new languages, so thanks for finding them. The Greek was is especially interesting - I had looked for one in Greek, but didn't find it. I'll add some of your examples to the document.

At this point, there are probably enough examples, so you don't need to spend more time looking.

Thanks again for your help,
Ken

Sorry, I didn't notice your actual proposal before.  I've read it now, you already have plenty of stuff.

My other confusion, and the reason I posted so much, is the guy who quoted the Unicode rejection letter from 2011 on page 1.  I didn't read it very carefully, and I thought it was an update saying that your proposal was just now rejected.  lol.

[kens]

I can't tell you how many times I used to wish there was an IBM groupmark symbol.

Lol. Yes, my previous Unicode proposal was for the group mark symbol used by IBM mainframes in the 1960s. It was approved, so that symbol will be in the next Unicode release. You may be interested in my related article on mining Bitcoin on a 1960s mainframe: http://www.righto.com/2015/05/bitcoin-mining-on-55-year-old-ibm-1401.html

Sorry, I didn't notice your actual proposal before.  I've read it now, you already have plenty of stuff.

That explains things. For those just joining, my proposal to add the Bitcoin symbol is at http://righto.com/bitcoin-unicode.pdf and is much more extensive than the unrelated rejected 2011 proposal.

Ken

[RealBitcoin]

So why do we need the Unicode approval for this?

Cant we just create a patch for all OS's and include the BTC in it's alphabet? I dont understand why we need their permission to include it in the alphabet.

Can anybody enlighten me?