<p>The answer is multifaceted.</p>

<ol>
<li>Microtransactions were not a design goal of Bitcoin. Even if they're not well supported, that's ok.</li>
<li>Off-chain transactions might be used if on-chain microtransactions are too expensive.</li>
<li>There are a few possibilities to implement microtransactions on the blockchain. One such implementation was recently added to <a href="http://thegenesisblock.com/off-chain-micropayments-implemented-in-bitcoinj/" rel="nofollow">bitcionj</a>. Also see this interesting proposal for nondeterministic <a href="https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Nanopayments" rel="nofollow">nanopayments</a>.</li>
<li>Alt chains for microtransactions are a viable solution as well.</li>
</ol>

<p>TL;DR - it's not a problem.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-07-19T15:08:30.667Z
2013-07-19T15:08:30.667Z
ripper234
<p>Currently bitcoin protocol does not suit very well for microtransactions</p>

<p><a href="http://simondlr.com/post/46590540723/unfeasible-micro-transactions-in-bitcoin" rel="nofollow">http://simondlr.com/post/46590540723/unfeasible-micro-transactions-in-bitcoin</a></p>

<p><a href="https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=196138.0" rel="nofollow">https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=196138.0</a></p>

<p>However, there is some work going on which tries to work around limitations</p>

<p><a href="http://thegenesisblock.com/off-chain-micropayments-implemented-in-bitcoinj/" rel="nofollow">http://thegenesisblock.com/off-chain-micropayments-implemented-in-bitcoinj/</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-07-19T12:45:19.413Z
2013-07-19T12:45:19.413Z
Mikko Ohtamaa
<p>This is only my view and kind of skirts the question (but not really).</p>

<p>microtransactions between individuals may use the blockchain, but as bitcoin (and others) grow, the services surrounding them will also and the transactions will move off of the blockchain.  Look at the current exchanges.  There are hundreds of transactions going on at any time.  None of them are in the block chain and they shouldn't be.  I see it moving this way commercially. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-07-19T14:26:09.877Z
2013-07-19T14:26:09.877Z
user6022
<p>Say in a few years Bitcoin is where we hope it is, like $1000 or even $10000. In such a scenario one cent is about 1-10 microBitcoins (1 millionth or 0.000001 BTC).</p>

<p>In my experience, attempting to use bitcoins for small transactions (even of order 0.001 BTC) usually either takes a very long time, or just doesn't get processed at all. It thus worries me that BitCoins cannot be used for small transactions which correspond to a big and important part of the economy (e.g. a kid buying a Popsicle, or giving a $1 tip, or buying bigger stuff in third world countries, etc.)</p>

<p>Does anyone has a useful perspective on this issue?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-09T06:45:00.463Z
You must be rich now
Alex Lacayo
<transactions>
Can the Bitcoin protocol support very small transactions effectively?
Assaf Shomer
# Can the Bitcoin protocol support very small transactions effectively?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-07-19)

Say in a few years Bitcoin is where we hope it is, like $1000 or even $10000. In such a scenario one cent is about 1-10 microBitcoins (1 millionth or 0.000001 BTC).

In my experience, attempting to use bitcoins for small transactions (even of order 0.001 BTC) usually either takes a very long time, or just doesn't get processed at all. It thus worries me that BitCoins cannot be used for small transactions which correspond to a big and important part of the economy (e.g. a kid buying a Popsicle, or giving a $1 tip, or buying bigger stuff in third world countries, etc.)

Does anyone has a useful perspective on this issue?

**Tags:** transactions

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: You must be rich now  

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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2013-07-19. Score: 2

The answer is multifaceted.

1. Microtransactions were not a design goal of Bitcoin. Even if they're not well supported, that's ok.
2. Off-chain transactions might be used if on-chain microtransactions are too expensive.
3. There are a few possibilities to implement microtransactions on the blockchain. One such implementation was recently added to [bitcionj](http://thegenesisblock.com/off-chain-micropayments-implemented-in-bitcoinj/). Also see this interesting proposal for nondeterministic [nanopayments](https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Nanopayments).
4. Alt chains for microtransactions are a viable solution as well.

TL;DR - it's not a problem.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2013-07-19. Score: 0

Currently bitcoin protocol does not suit very well for microtransactions

<http://simondlr.com/post/46590540723/unfeasible-micro-transactions-in-bitcoin>

<https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=196138.0>

However, there is some work going on which tries to work around limitations

<http://thegenesisblock.com/off-chain-micropayments-implemented-in-bitcoinj/>


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### Answer by username_4 on 2013-07-19. Score: 0

This is only my view and kind of skirts the question (but not really).

microtransactions between individuals may use the blockchain, but as bitcoin (and others) grow, the services surrounding them will also and the transactions will move off of the blockchain. Look at the current exchanges. There are hundreds of transactions going on at any time. None of them are in the block chain and they shouldn't be. I see it moving this way commercially.


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