"Bitcoin" vs "bitcoin" | Do we know the difference?

[Little Mouse]

I was browsing the forum and found a thread to read but was surprised to see the ads from the forum adslot which was containing this text-
"The Bitcoin software, network, and concept is called "Bitcoin" with a capitalized "B". Bitcoin currency units are called "bitcoins" with a lowercase "b" -- this is often abbreviated BTC."

We are using B/b when writing "Bitcoin/bitcoin" frequently but without knowing the system.

Wondering how this clarification has come. Is it a rule of English? Or rule set by someone to differentiate the difference between about we are actually talking about.

So, basically, I will say "I have 0.001 bitcoin", I have to use the lowercase "b" while if I say, "There are nodes which have the copy of Bitcoin transaction record from the beginning.", I have to use uppercase "B".

I had no idea. All these days, I was only using randomly lol.

[1714963833]

1714963833

[1714963833]

1714963833

[1714963833]

1714963833

[Cookdata]

I noticed that too with my auto correct whenever I'm writing words that had to with bitcoin and Bitcoin. I was getting tired of it at a point and from my research, bitcoin is use in writing to indicate Bitcoin as a currency and Bitcoin as it main protocol and anything other things that had to with bitcoin network.
If I have 0.1btc, I may decide to put it like 0.1 bitcoin and for it protocol for example: I was able to download the Bitcoin full ledger, that's how I make it easy for my self....

[Pmalek]

I think that most people tend to default to spelling the word with an uppercase B, no matter if they are talking about the protocol or units of a currency. I also see the same things in media outlets when reporting about Bitcoin. People generally don't care how they spell things even for more important terms than B/bitcoin. But everything you mentioned in OP is correct. I even wrote a thread with a poll on this subject a few years ago and my experience tells me that most people aren't that interested in paying attention to it.

[witcher_sense]

Bitcoin currency units are called "bitcoins" with a lowercase "b" -- this is often abbreviated BTC."

The word (noun) "Bitcoin", both as a network and as a currency, is uncountable. 1 bitcoin, 0.5 bitcoin, etc... Ditto satoshi: 20000 satoshi, one million satoshi...

[nakamura12]

Mine was different. You said so yourself that you randomly choose Bitcoin and bitcoin when you write about it but mine was always in small letter unless it starts after a period which we know every letter next to a period after the sentence will be automatically in bold letter except when I write Bitcointalk which the letter b is in capital. Well, because many did take much attention to it so I also didn't noticed it too until I end up in this thread of yours. Good to know on my side.

[Stalker22]

Wondering how this clarification has come. Is it a rule of English? Or rule set by someone to differentiate the difference between about we are actually talking about.

The capitalization rules for writing currency elements may vary from language to language. But in English, currency names, like measurement units, are usually written using a lowercase initial (e.g. "dollar", "euro", "yen", "franc", "pound",...), and that is why "bitcoin" refers to a currency.

In English, a capital letter is used for all proper nouns (words that identify a specific person, place, organization, or thing). That is why Bitcoin is capitalized when it refers to the concept, protocol, software, and / or community.

[BitcoinGirl.Club]

Now i remember reading about it long time ago. But IMO it's not really practical and most people forget it quickly. I would rather write few more words (such as "Bitcoin network" rather than "Bitcoin") to make myself (in the future) and other people understand what i wanted to say.

I had a topic about it long time ago I think you read about it there. Frankly speaking I too forgot about it and don't care to use capital B and small b.

The capitalization rules for writing currency elements may vary from language to language. But in English, currency names, like measurement units, are usually written using a lowercase initial (e.g. "dollar", "euro", "yen", "franc", "pound",...), and that is why "bitcoin" refers to a currency.

In English, a capital letter is used for all proper nouns (words that identify a specific person, place, organization, or thing). That is why Bitcoin is capitalized when it refers to the concept, protocol, software, and / or community.

This simplify the entire topic very well. However I did not know this thing that we always write measurement units in lowercase letter. I did see KG, Pound to be used.

[Stalker22]

~

This simplify the entire topic very well. However I did not know this thing that we always write measurement units in lowercase letter. I did see KG, Pound to be used.

I believe, unit names are generally always written in lowercase. However, symbols for units named after people, such as the ampere [A] are capitalized.

in English and French, even when the unit is named after a person and its symbol begins with a capital letter, the unit name in running text should start with a lowercase letter (e.g., newton, hertz, pascal) and is capitalized only at the beginning of a sentence and in headings and publication titles.

[dkbit98]

I don't think there is much difference how you write word Bitcoin, starting with capital letter or even in all caps, it's one and the same thing.
Original Bitcoin logo is always written in lowercase same as units, but in English language even days are started with capital letter so I see why not use that for Bitcoin also

[OgNasty]

I was browsing the forum and found a thread to read but was surprised to see the ads from the forum adslot which was containing this text-
"The Bitcoin software, network, and concept is called "Bitcoin" with a capitalized "B". Bitcoin currency units are called "bitcoins" with a lowercase "b" -- this is often abbreviated BTC."

We are using B/b when writing "Bitcoin/bitcoin" frequently but without knowing the system.

Wondering how this clarification has come. Is it a rule of English? Or rule set by someone to differentiate the difference between about we are actually talking about.

So, basically, I will say "I have 0.001 bitcoin", I have to use the lowercase "b" while if I say, "There are nodes which have the copy of Bitcoin transaction record from the beginning.", I have to use uppercase "B".

I had no idea. All these days, I was only using randomly lol.

The difference is pretty simple.  Bitcoin is a technology.  When you're discussing Bitcoin you would capitalize it.  If you're just talking about how many bitcoins you own, then no capitalization is necessary. 

Example.  I love Bitcoin but I wish I had more bitcoins.  I'm no English major, so I don't know the specific terms or anything, but it's not exactly a complex subject to master.  I guess an easy way to remember would be that Bitcoin as a technology is amazing and worthy of capitalization, while nobody cares how many bitcoins you have, so while describing them you need not worry about capitalization. 

[cryptoaddictchie]

Actually I didnt noticed that but to check some information, Ive seen that there are some use b and B too. Impressive to note that but probably only few people might got an issue when using the capital and small letter one.

The difference is pretty simple.  Bitcoin is a technology.  When you're discussing Bitcoin you would capitalize it.  If you're just talking about how many bitcoins you own, then no capitalization is necessary. 

This is definitely the simplest explanation from the question OP. Very easy and has clarity.

[pawanjain]

I was browsing the forum and found a thread to read but was surprised to see the ads from the forum adslot which was containing this text-
"The Bitcoin software, network, and concept is called "Bitcoin" with a capitalized "B". Bitcoin currency units are called "bitcoins" with a lowercase "b" -- this is often abbreviated BTC."

We are using B/b when writing "Bitcoin/bitcoin" frequently but without knowing the system.

Wondering how this clarification has come. Is it a rule of English? Or rule set by someone to differentiate the difference between about we are actually talking about.

So, basically, I will say "I have 0.001 bitcoin", I have to use the lowercase "b" while if I say, "There are nodes which have the copy of Bitcoin transaction record from the beginning.", I have to use uppercase "B".

I had no idea. All these days, I was only using randomly lol.

That is true. I came to know about it last year through this forum itself. Someone had mentioned the same thing in one of their posts.
Even though the difference between Bitcoin and bitcoin is huge we still tend to ignore it since the spelling is literally the same.
To be honest, most people would not know the difference and wouldn't even care to correct themselves even if they find out what the actual difference is.
But yeah, it's always good to know find out the meaning for Bitcoin and bitcoin.

[Dillonhebist]

Nice, I didn't know that there is a difference between Bitcoin and bitcoin until now, I just use the two spelling (B and b )any how thinking both spellings means the same.
But what I normally do is starting my letters in capitals wherever there is fullstop.
 
Now I know and understand better.

[PrimeNumber7]

I don't think there is much difference how you write word Bitcoin, starting with capital letter or even in all caps, it's one and the same thing.

I personally am often lazy when referring to the unit of bitcoin and will refer to it as "coin" as a broad sense to include both bitcoin and other altcoins. I also often refer to "Bitcoin" as "bitcoin core" or the "bitcoin network" depending on the specific topic of conversation. Anyone reading can easily deduce what is being talked about.

[sheenshane]

I didn't want to confuse myself which is the right to use the uppercase B or the lowercase b, IMO, I used Bitcoin because this is the name of this currency, and since the noun starts with the uppercase letter I used "Bitcoin" every time I was writing.  But anyway, thank you for this input and clarification about the Bitcoin name, I didn't know that there's proper writing.

[aoluain]

I too have always typed Bitcoin with an uppercase B when referring to either
the currency or the technology. I think I have mostly used BTC or btc when
refering to the currency as in an amount like 0.1btc/BTC.

I like ^{eventhough its technically incorrect} to use the capital B because it symbolises
the Bitcoin logo BTC, simple as that. TBH I didnt realise or notice before that
currency does not get a capital letter.

[hugeblack]

What about BitCoin? I remember that it was used in the past, perhaps because the name is derived from two terms, but now it has become "a noun of a subject" and therefore the first letter was sufficient.

Does anyone know when people stopped using BitCoin?

AFAIK, we use Bitcoin for bitcoin network and BTC for bitcoin units.

In general, thanks for the information, I did not expect that there was a difference.

[aysg76]

Until now i have not given any much importance to how i was using the term as generally I use bitcoin and Bitcoin both as term to refer to the name and btc for the units but now have an idea about how to distinguish between capital and lowercase letters.

But what i think is most of the people don't care about it and the thing is they feel comfortable in both of them without going into background check how to use them and are using as it is or say autocorrect automatically saves it to lowercase or upper case which we have used most of the time.But still good to have information about it.

[mocacinno]

I'm dyslectic... When i saw the title, this was the only thing going trough my mind:



Source: https://imgflip.com/memegenerator/They're-The-Same-Picture

[Falconer]

What about BitCoin? I remember that it was used in the past, perhaps because the name is derived from two terms, but now it has become "a noun of a subject" and therefore the first letter was sufficient.

Does anyone know when people stopped using BitCoin?

AFAIK, we use Bitcoin for bitcoin network and BTC for bitcoin units.

In general, thanks for the information, I did not expect that there was a difference.

I think the use of the word "B" is more synonymous to discuss something that is technical in nature but for "b" is usually used to refer to bitcoin units. But to be honest, I also randomly use it sometimes and it shouldn't be much of a problem.

Looks like we already have the right consensus on the usage of the words Bitcoin, bitcoin, and btc as I quote them here. Source

Bitcoin - with capitalization, is used when describing the concept of Bitcoin, or the entire network itself. e.g. "I was learning about the Bitcoin protocol today."
bitcoin - without capitalization, is used to describe bitcoins as a unit of account. e.g. "I sent ten bitcoins today."; it is also often abbreviated BTC or XBT.