<p>The native unit of the Bitcoin protocol is the satoshi. All output values in Bitcoin transactions are expressed in whole numbers of satoshis. Bitcoin's protocol does not use any non-integer values for consensus relevant data. Therefore, the atomic unit of value in the Bitcoin protocol is the satoshi.</p>
<p>The Lightning Network uses <em>millisatoshi</em> (1 sat = 1000 msat) for all values pertaining to channel updates: e.g. channel balances, HTLC amounts, forwarding fees, and invoice amounts. Since millisatoshis cannot be expressed in Bitcoin transactions, the respective amounts are rounded down to whole satoshis in the outputs of commitment transactions or when closing a channel. Any remaining split satoshis are dropped to fees.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-12-30T19:34:50.030Z
2022-12-30T19:34:50.030Z
Murch
<p>I would be surprised if the SAT were divisible on L1... is it?
I would be surprised if the SAT were <em>not</em> divisible on L2...is it?
If the SAT is divisible anywhere, then to what decimal place?</p>
<p>Is the SAT truly atomic?</p>

<lightning-network><satoshi><divisibility>
Is there any Bitcoin layer (eg. Bitcoin = L1, Lightning = L2, etc.) on which the satoshi (SAT) is divisible?
JDOaktown
# Is there any Bitcoin layer (eg. Bitcoin = L1, Lightning = L2, etc.) on which the satoshi (SAT) is divisible?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-12-30)

I would be surprised if the SAT were divisible on L1... is it?
I would be surprised if the SAT were *not* divisible on L2...is it?
If the SAT is divisible anywhere, then to what decimal place?

Is the SAT truly atomic?

**Tags:** lightning-network, satoshi, divisibility


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2022-12-30. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

The native unit of the Bitcoin protocol is the satoshi. All output values in Bitcoin transactions are expressed in whole numbers of satoshis. Bitcoin's protocol does not use any non-integer values for consensus relevant data. Therefore, the atomic unit of value in the Bitcoin protocol is the satoshi.

The Lightning Network uses *millisatoshi* (1 sat = 1000 msat) for all values pertaining to channel updates: e.g. channel balances, HTLC amounts, forwarding fees, and invoice amounts. Since millisatoshis cannot be expressed in Bitcoin transactions, the respective amounts are rounded down to whole satoshis in the outputs of commitment transactions or when closing a channel. Any remaining split satoshis are dropped to fees.


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