Crypto · 18 Oct 2026
Dollar-cost averaging explained: why it lowers your average price
Buying a fixed amount on a schedule means you buy more when prices are low. Here is how that shapes your average price.
Key takeaways
- 1 BTC = 100,000,000 satoshis (sats). One satoshi is 0.00000001 BTC, the smallest unit the Bitcoin network records.
- 1 BTC = 1,000 mBTC = 1,000,000 bits. One bit is 100 sats.
- To convert sats to BTC, divide by 100,000,000. To find the dollar value of 1 sat, divide the BTC price by 100 million.
There are 100,000,000 satoshis in one bitcoin. A satoshi, usually shortened to "sat", is 0.00000001 BTC: the eighth decimal place, and the smallest amount the Bitcoin blockchain records. Because a whole bitcoin costs tens of thousands of dollars, most people actually buy, send and save in sats.
Free tool
Convert between BTC, mBTC, bits and sats instantly. Open the Crypto Unit Converter.
Bitcoin units at a glance
| Unit | In BTC | In satoshis | Per 1 BTC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin (BTC) | 1 | 100,000,000 | 1 |
| Millibitcoin (mBTC) | 0.001 | 100,000 | 1,000 |
| Bit (μBTC) | 0.000001 | 100 | 1,000,000 |
| Satoshi (sat) | 0.00000001 | 1 | 100,000,000 |
The "bit" was proposed in BIP 176 as a friendlier unit: it has two decimals, like dollars and cents, so 1 bit = 100 sats.
How to convert sats to BTC (and back)
- Sats → BTC: divide by 100,000,000. 250,000 sats ÷ 100,000,000 = 0.0025 BTC.
- BTC → sats: multiply by 100,000,000. 0.015 BTC × 100,000,000 = 1,500,000 sats.
- Bits → BTC: divide by 1,000,000. 5,000 bits = 0.005 BTC.
- BTC → mBTC: multiply by 1,000. 0.2 BTC = 200 mBTC.
A trick for doing it in your head: move the decimal point eight places. 0.00042 BTC becomes 42,000 sats.
Sats to BTC conversion chart
| Satoshis | BTC | Bits | mBTC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0.00000001 | 0.01 | 0.00001 |
| 100 | 0.000001 | 1 | 0.001 |
| 1,000 | 0.00001 | 10 | 0.01 |
| 10,000 | 0.0001 | 100 | 0.1 |
| 100,000 | 0.001 | 1,000 | 1 |
| 1,000,000 | 0.01 | 10,000 | 10 |
| 10,000,000 | 0.1 | 100,000 | 100 |
| 100,000,000 | 1 | 1,000,000 | 1,000 |
How much is 1 satoshi worth in dollars?
Divide the bitcoin price by 100,000,000. The result changes every second with the market, so here is the math at round prices:
| BTC price | 1 sat | $1 buys | 10,000 sats |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $0.0005 | 2,000 sats | $5 |
| $100,000 | $0.001 | 1,000 sats | $10 |
| $150,000 | $0.0015 | 667 sats | $15 |
At $100,000 per BTC, one sat is a tenth of a cent, so $1 buys about 1,000 sats. That is why "stacking sats" through small, regular purchases is popular; see our guide to dollar-cost averaging and model a plan with the DCA calculator.
Why sats are the more useful unit
Saying you hold "0.00184 BTC" is awkward and easy to mistype. "184,000 sats" is a whole number, which makes amounts easier to compare and less likely to be off by a decimal place. Many wallets and Lightning apps now show sats by default, and network fees are quoted in sats per virtual byte (sat/vB). A transaction of 140 vB at 10 sat/vB costs 1,400 sats in fees.
When you calculate gains or losses, convert everything to the same unit first. Our crypto profit calculator and the guide on how to calculate crypto profit show how to include fees.
Common mistakes when converting
- Mixing up bits and BTC. "Bits" in a wallet means μBTC (100 sats), not computer bits.
- Dropping a zero. 0.0001 BTC is 10,000 sats, not 1,000. Count the eight decimal places.
- Ignoring the dust limit. Very small outputs (a few hundred sats) can cost more in fees to spend than they are worth.
FAQ
How many satoshis are in 1 bitcoin?
Exactly 100,000,000 (one hundred million). One satoshi is 0.00000001 BTC.
How many bits are in a bitcoin?
1,000,000 bits. A bit is 100 satoshis, or 0.000001 BTC.
How do I convert BTC to mBTC?
Multiply by 1,000. 0.25 BTC is 250 mBTC. To go back, divide mBTC by 1,000.
Can you buy less than one satoshi?
Not on the Bitcoin base layer. The Lightning Network can track millisatoshis (1/1,000 of a sat) inside payment channels, but final settlement on-chain is rounded to whole sats.
Why is it called a satoshi?
It is named after Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous creator of Bitcoin.