Do you know the difference between Bitcoin and bitcoin?

[Pmalek]

As I was completing a survey about an hour ago, there was some mention about the distinction between Bitcoin spelt with capital B, and bitcoin with a lowercase b. Although I have heard about this before, and I usually pay a lot of attention to spelling and punctuation, I have to admit that I have totally forgotten about this.

When we talk about Bitcoin as a blockchain, payment method, or a service, we are supposed to spell the word with an uppercase B.

Here is an example:
My best friend doesn't see the advantages of Bitcoin.

When we talk about the currency or mention numbers and quantitates of the asset, the word should be spelt with a lowercase b.

Here is an example:
I sent my best friend 1 bitcoin as a birthday gift. 


Do you pay attention to this while you are posting on the forum?

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[lifeforcepools]

I don't really see any difference between the two options. In my opinion, you are free to write as you see fit.

[MusaMohamed]

It is writing style but I would choose the bitcoin and BTC.

There are derivatives: Bitcoin, BITCOIN, BTC and I think readers can understand what it is.

In orders of good, my choice will be:
- bitcoin
- BTC
- BTC.

I don't like Bitcoin or BITCOIN.

[BlackHatCoiner]

No I don't, but yeah this is correct.

Bitcoin: The title.
bitcoin: The unit.
BTC: ISO code.
₿: The symbol.

These are the least grammatically issues we have on this forum, though...  

[bakasabo]

As a Russian speaking person, I do not pay much attention on Bitcoin and bitcoin. Russian grammar does not have that kind of differences, and during English classes I dont remember that teacher put much attention on that kind of things (or same as you, "I have already forgotten about this").

When I write post, I try to concentrate more on tenses while doing Russian>English translation in my head.
After your topic, I think I would pay a bit more attention to Bitcoin/bitcoin, but frankly speaking, when I re-read my post, I wont click on edit button to correct this.

[Twinkledoe]

No I don't, but yeah this is correct.

Bitcoin: The title.
bitcoin: The unit.
BTC: ISO code.
₿: The symbol.

That's the least grammatically issues we have on this forum, though... 

Yes, because here in the forum, doesn't matter how you use the word bitcoin in your post. And everyone understands what you are referring to. But maybe, if you are writing a professional article to be published, you need to be aware what you are writing as most people that may read the article don't have the knowledge what you're talking about even for us is considered a popular term and also to observe the proper use of this word following grammar rules.

[Eureka_07]

As I was completing a survey about an hour ago, there was some mention about the distinction between Bitcoin spelt with capital B, and bitcoin with a lowercase b.
<snip>
Do you pay attention to this while you are posting on the forum?

Perhaps you are referring to the survey stated on this thread Public perception of Bitcoin as payment method (survey), I've also noticed that and it's one thing that I'll remember on his survey.
I'm planning to ask this matter to the OP of the survey, I'm glad you open a discussion about regarding it.
Your explanation made me understand it much better.

Yes I had an attention when to use Bitcoin from bitcoin recently, but that time I do not know what's the difference between the two.

[MusaMohamed]

As a Russian speaking person, I do not pay much attention on Bitcoin and bitcoin. Russian grammar does not have that kind of differences, and during English classes I dont remember that teacher put much attention on that kind of things (or same as you, "I have already forgotten about this").

When I write post, I try to concentrate more on tenses while doing Russian>English translation in my head.
After your topic, I think I would pay a bit more attention to Bitcoin/bitcoin, but frankly speaking, when I re-read my post, I wont click on edit button to correct this.

I don't know Russian but I think it is general rule for common noun and proper noun

Bitcoin: proper noun
bitcoin: common noun

BITCOIN: Capitalization of all characters (bad use)
BTC: can be accepted as acronym of Bitcoin (as proper noun)
btc: can be accepted as acronym of bitcoin (as common noun)

[Becky666]

There are misconceptions about Bitcoin and bitcoin but the beauty of this is; forum members don't care about this grammatical errors around the forum but reading with best understanding. If i can recall currently, there was such thread in the past that got my ass fixed with these two. Bitcoin--- The name of the technology and bitcoin---- the currency; to my understanding. Sincerely, thousands of network users do used these words interchangeably both lower ranks and higher ranks  .

[Beparanf]

I pay attention on it when I'm still new here but now it was listed on keyboard and I don't what is the the proper word to use as long as I'm pertaining to a same subject and I can express my thought in my statement. This is an open forum so any minor grammar especially on this case that didn't affect the message is not that a big deal.

[BrewMaster]

When we talk about Bitcoin as a blockchain, payment method, or a service, we are supposed to spell the word with an uppercase B.

i believe that we capitalize the first letter only when we want to refer to the technology or protocol (for example the Bitcoin protocol) otherwise if it is to be referred to as the payment method or the currency the lower case is used.
so technically your example "My best friend doesn't see the advantages of Bitcoin." means your friend used the protocol not bitcoin as a currency. like if he created an altcoin based on Bitcoin.

[MusaMohamed]

Bitcoin Whitepaper: https://bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf
Welcome to the new Bitcoin forum: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5.msg28#msg28
A second post of satoshi in this forum: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=6.msg29#msg29

I think the bitcoin creator chose bitcoin for bitcoin.

B (capitalized) is for proper name of forum (Bitcoin forum), blockchain (Bitcoin blockchain), a product (Bitcoin ATM).

[Alert31]

I think either Capital or small letter B to use the word bitcoin it has the same meaning and understanding. If you are going to give different meaning between this letter B ,then it will only add to the complexity of people to understand bitcoin easily. Also, I think everyone is free to write the word bitcoin either in capital or small letter B.

[erikoy]

Well they are actually the same. However, I also get your point here that the lower case b and uppercase B for bitcoin has different in meaning when use. Bitcoin is a noun that could be use to name like Bitcoin system.

bitcoin is a unit. 1 bitcoin.

I think this is the only difference OP wanting to pass on but because the forum is not strict when it comes to the use of grammar and not all here are native english speaker so those words had been use interchangeably. Am I right?

[LeGaulois]

...

Wrong

BTC isn't the proper ISO code for Bitcoin, it's XBT. In finance, the X means the currency is stateless, it complies with the standards in the markets. (To compare, a gold sticker is XAU) That's why you mainly see exchange platforms using XBT
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_4217#X_currencies

The Bitcoin symbol wasn't "BTC " or "BTC" at the beginning, it was"BC" (the very first Bitcoin logo was a gold coin with the letter "BC". Google "Bitcoin BC" you will find it).
BTC, I don't remember very well how it came about. It seems to me that it is after a discussion on this forum for the bitcoin-client.

edit: see the link https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=41.0

...

The Bitcoin's Blockchain should be written with a B capitalized. Any other blockchain with b (they just copy the name on the top of that).

[Lucius]

I have to admit that I use Bitcoin or BTC in most cases, while I used to use BTC. I don't think it's that important to most users because we know what it's about, but grammatically and from a technological perspective it makes sense to use B and b in different contexts.

It is good to clarify some things, because many remain confused by the fact that it is exactly the same thing BC, BTC or XBT if we take into account the complete history and everything that is happening today.

[avikz]

No I don't, but yeah this is correct.

Bitcoin: The title.
bitcoin: The unit.
BTC: ISO code.
₿: The symbol.

That's the least grammatically issues we have on this forum, though... 

Frankly, I personally didn't know about any such things! So you will never see that I have used an uppercase B while writing bitcoin within a sentence. But this is something new I have learnt today! We all are aware of symbol and codes though but definitely the bifurcation between title and unit was not known to many! Quite frankly, I don't care as long as bitcoin price is holding its ground because all we care about to get rich!

[pixie85]

I remember reading a thread about it some time ago but I haven't really paid much attention to how I write it. I often wrote it with capital letter as a proper name unless I forgot about it.

I often misspell things and don't use proper punctuation because I'm clumsy and easily distracted.

The Bitcoin's Blockchain should be written with a B capitalized. Any other blockchain with b (they just copy the name on the top of that).

I like this definition. Some deseve to be written like this: bSV bLOCKCHAIN.

[Gotumoot]

No I don't, but yeah this is correct.

Bitcoin: The title.
bitcoin: The unit.
BTC: ISO code.
₿: The symbol.

That's the least grammatically issues we have on this forum, though... 

Thanks for clearing it for us who got confused about it.
For me it didn't matter because when we right Bitcoin with capital or just lower case we automatically understand it here in the forum,
So I didn't pay too much attention to it.

[Eureka_07]

There are misconceptions about Bitcoin and bitcoin but the beauty of this is; forum members don't care about this grammatical errors around the forum <snip>

IMHO, I think because of most users don't care on these small mistakes is because they are not aware that these 2 (Bitcoin and bitcoin) are different.
I'm sure some of them will be using these 2 words on their sentences in a correct way since they are now aware about these fact.
It's better if more terminologies will be shared here to atleast correct some misconceptions.