mBTC: At what point should the community use this as the default unit?

[eklass]

Given the current trajectory of Bitcoin prices (~$59, at time of writing), it's foreseeable that trying to exchange small goods/services will result in price quotes prefixed by several zeros. For example, a soda machine sells drinks for $1.25 USD. Currently, this is approximately 0.021 BTC. If/when BTC hits $126 USD, the price will be 0.00992. 5 decimal places just to represent the cost of a soda. Or 9.92mBTC, which is arguably much more user-friendly. The problem only worsens as BTC price goes up.

Would it be better for the community to start using mBTC at the default unit sooner rather than later? If not, when do you expect the tipping point will be?

[wtfvanity]

Let's move the decimal 8 places right now. I want to have more BTC.

[Tirapon]

If/when BTC hits $126 USD, the price will be 0.00992.

Quite specific...

[grondilu]

For example, a soda machine sells drinks for $1.25 USD. Currently, this is approximately 0.021 BTC. If/when BTC hits $126 USD, the price will be 0.00992. 5 decimal places just to represent the cost of a soda. Or 9.92mBTC, which is arguably much more user-friendly.

It's up to the soda machine owner to make this decision.  It's literally not our business.

[eklass]

If/when BTC hits $126 USD, the price will be 0.00992.

Quite specific...

How so? If I had to guess, at present, most users on these forums expect 1 BTC to surge past $100 by next year at the absolute latest. To see it go beyond--driving the relative fiat prices to smaller and smaller amounts--isn't much of a stretch.

Edit: To me, it's a question of user-friendliness to ease uptake.

[Tirapon]

If/when BTC hits $126 USD, the price will be 0.00992.

Quite specific...

How so? If I had to guess, at present, most users on these forums expect 1 BTC to surge past $100 by next year at the absolute latest. To see it go beyond--driving the relative fiat prices to smaller and smaller amounts--isn't much of a stretch.

I just meant $126 seemed a rather specific value. If you'd said that at $125 per BTC it will cost 0.01 BTC that would have seemed more logical. I know it doesn't make a difference, I just tend to expect people to choose round numbers when taking an arbitrary figure as an example.

[eklass]

I just meant $126 seemed a rather specific value. If you'd said that at $125 per BTC it will cost 0.01 BTC that would have seemed more logical. I know it doesn't make a difference, I just tend to expect people to choose round numbers when taking an arbitrary figure as an example.

I see. Yeah, I chose $126 versus $125 to help illustrate the eventual problem if BTC/USD prices increase. The numbers themselves are obviously irrelevant, I just wanted a concrete example most people can relate to.

[Domrada]

FWIW, I recently switched my client to display mBTC. So that's one data point.

[Tirapon]

I get your point about making it user friendly - although to me it makes little difference whether prices are displayed in BTC or mBTC. Consistency could be an issue here though. It certainly becomes less user friendly if prices are displayed in BTC in one place but mBTC elsewhere. Maybe best to stick to BTC and learn to deal with leading 0s?

[AbsoluteZero]

I like the term Bitcents more than mBTC

So the soda is 1 Bitcent

[Koekiemonster]

I like the term Bitcents more than mBTC

So the soda is 1 Bitcent

That's confusing since Bitcent implies 0.01 BTC and mBTC is 0.001 BTC.

[eklass]

I get your point about making it user friendly - although to me it makes little difference whether prices are displayed in BTC or mBTC. Consistency could be an issue here though. It certainly becomes less user friendly if prices are displayed in BTC in one place but mBTC elsewhere. Maybe best to stick to BTC and learn to deal with leading 0s?

Or switch to mBTC and have them become familiar with SI units from the get-go? Surely, people wil ask what mBTC stands for or why the m is small, at which point a discussion along the lines of "it's like megs and gigs".

mBTC is only the start. If Bitcoin gains wide adoption, there's no reason to think that uBTC won't eventually become the norm.

[jwzguy]

I have switched to using "internets."
Because reddit.

[Lethn]

What is so difficult about writing 0.0000000001 BTC?

[marhjan]

Dragon's Tale got this right back in 2011

0.001btc = 1btm or bitmill

all this scientific notation mbtc just makes us look like the nerds we are

[Tomatocage]

.001 is still the recommended fee to attach to a transaction

[AbsoluteZero]

As BTC goes up in price, BTC holders will buy bigger things with Bitcoins

BTC will be good for houses, cars, other investments, vacations, jewelry, etc.

We can buy sodas with fiat.

Just like stocks and treasuries, etc. Nobody sells them to buy a soda.

[nobbynobbynoob]

We can buy sodas with fiat.

Or LTC.

[Rincewind]

Just like stocks and treasuries, etc. Nobody sells them to buy a soda.

My wife would if she had the password to my Sharebuilder account. 

[nwbitcoin]

Maybe best to stick to BTC and learn to deal with leading 0s?

and this is why bitcoin is currently a geek thing! ;/

The general public with prefer to do without than to learn to deal with anything!

The concept of marketing is all about making things easy for people.

Make it look like a dollar, and they might warm to it.  Make it look like the missing part of the pi equation and bitcoin is going to have no friends!