Bitcoin Symbol (₿)
The Bitcoin symbol (₿) is the recognized typographical glyph representing the decentralized cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Encoded at Unicode U+20BF, it consists of a capital letter B intersected by two vertical serifs extending from the top and bottom.
Cryptocurrency Standards & Typography Notice
BTC is an open-market digital asset ticker, not an official ISO 4217 fiat currency code. The Bitcoin symbol ₿ was officially assigned to Unicode U+20BF in June 2017.
Typographic & Developer Encoding Codes
Quickly copy HTML entities, CSS content escape sequences, and Unicode code points for Bitcoin.
| Format | Value / Code | Description | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raw Symbol | ₿ | Standard plain text character or abbreviation | |
| Unicode Code Point | U+20BF | BITCOIN SIGN (Currency Symbols) | |
| Windows Input / Alt Code | Word: 20BF, Alt+X / Win + . | Keyboard shortcut for Windows PC | |
| HTML Named / Decimal Entity | None (Numeric: ₿) | HTML5 named character entity | |
| HTML Hex Entity | ₿ | Hexadecimal HTML character reference | |
| CSS Escape Code | \20BF | For CSS ::before or ::after pseudo-elements |
How to Type Bitcoin Symbol (₿) on Any Device
Windows PC
In Microsoft Word, type 20BF then press Alt + X. In other Windows applications, press Win + . to open the Symbol panel, or use 1-click copy.
Mac / macOS
No direct shortcut. Press Control + Command + Space to open Character Viewer, or hold Option and enter hex in Unicode Hex Input.
iPhone & iPad (iOS)
Set up iOS Text Replacement: 'btc' -> '₿'
Android (Gboard)
Long-press currency symbols in Gboard or copy-paste
Formatting Rules & Real-World Examples
Symbol Placement: Before Amount
In standard financial notation, the Bitcoin symbol is positioned immediately before the numerical amount.
Typography & International Usage Guidelines
Bitcoin is a decentralized protocol without a sovereign national issuer or ISO 4217 state currency code. Market platforms use the ticker 'BTC', while 'XBT' is used as an informal ISO 4217-compatible ticker (under ISO rules for supranational assets). Bitcoin amounts are typically formatted with up to 8 decimal places (0.00000001 BTC = 1 Satoshi).
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Claiming Bitcoin has an official ISO 4217 standard currency code (BTC is a financial market ticker; ISO 4217 has not assigned a code).
- Using the Thai Baht sign ฿ (U+0E3F) instead of the true Bitcoin symbol ₿ (U+20BF).
- Listing countries as sovereign issuers (Bitcoin operates on a decentralized peer-to-peer network).
Historical Background & Monetary Evolution
Bitcoin was created in 2008 by the pseudonymous developer Satoshi Nakamoto. In the early years, the community used the Thai Baht sign (฿, U+0E3F) as a temporary visual placeholder, creating confusion with Thailand's national currency. In November 2010, bitcointalk user 'bitboy' released the iconic orange circular logo featuring a tilted white letter B with two vertical strokes. Following an extensive campaign led by cryptocurrency advocates and typography experts, the Unicode Consortium officially encoded the dedicated BITCOIN SIGN at U+20BF in Unicode 10.0 in June 2017.
Related Tools & Guides for Bitcoin
ISO 4217 Lookup
Search standard three-letter currency codes and ISO country pairings.
ToolCurrency Formatter
Calculate before/after position styles and international decimal notations.
GuideMac Option Key Shortcuts
How to configure and type international financial marks quickly on macOS.
GuideGoogle Docs & Sheets Guide
Insert special characters and configure currency formats in spreadsheets.
GuideiPhone & iPad Shortcuts
Quick long-press keyboard shortcuts on iOS to type monetary symbols.
SpecsUnicode Technical Standards
Master technical index for U+20A0–U+20CF blocks, HTML entities & CSS codes.
Similar & Related Currency Symbols
View all Cryptocurrency Symbols (₿, Ξ, Ł, Ð) →Standards Verification & Official Registry Specifications
This specification has been verified against official international standards registries (ISO 4217 Maintenance Agency, Unicode Consortium 16.0, and Unicode CLDR).
Frequently Asked Questions about Bitcoin (₿)
Common questions and direct answers regarding currency symbols, typing shortcuts, and international formatting.
Is Bitcoin an official ISO 4217 currency?
No. ISO 4217 maintains currency codes for sovereign states and supranational entities. 'BTC' is an industry ticker, while 'XBT' is used by some financial institutions following ISO conventions for non-national commodities, but neither is formally part of the ISO 4217 standard.
What is the difference between ฿ and ₿?
฿ (U+0E3F) is the official Thai Baht symbol representing the fiat currency of Thailand. ₿ (U+20BF) is the dedicated Bitcoin symbol added to Unicode in 2017 to eliminate typographic ambiguity.
How many decimal places does Bitcoin use?
Bitcoin can be divided down to 8 decimal places. The smallest indivisible unit is 0.00000001 BTC, named a 'Satoshi' (sat) after Bitcoin's founder.