Bitcoin Trading Symbol (BTC) Ƀ: A Complete Guide

Bitcoin Symbol Overview

The most widely recognized symbol for Bitcoin is a capital letter B with two vertical strokes at the top and bottom (₿). This design was introduced by Satoshi Nakamoto in early versions of the Bitcoin client, replacing the initial "BC" abbreviation. The symbol mirrors traditional currency insignias, representing:

The monetary unit "Bitcoin" (100 million satoshis)
The Bitcoin network and its native currency

Historically, similar Unicode characters like the Thai Baht (฿) or B with stroke (Ƀ) were used as substitutes before Bitcoin's official symbol was standardized.

Currency Code Standards

ISO 4217 Code: XBT vs. BTC

The ISO 4217 standard designates XBT as Bitcoin’s currency code, though it remains unofficial.

Why XBT?

BTC conflicts with Bhutan’s country code ("BT") per ISO 4217 rules.
XBT follows the convention for non-national assets (e.g., XAU for gold).

👉 Learn how to trade Bitcoin with XBT pairs

The Bitcoin Foundation has submitted a formal application to formalize XBT under ISO 4217.

Inserting the Bitcoin Symbol

Methods for Online Use

Unicode Character (₿)
- Enter U+20BF or copy the symbol directly (₿).
- Supported fonts: Horta, others.
Image Files
- Formats: PNG (raster), SVG (vector).
- Best for fixed-size displays.
Font Awesome
- Use HTML: <i class="fab fa-bitcoin"></i>.
Custom Fonts
- Example: Theymos’ BitcoinTalk font (replaces "BTC" text with ₿).

Unicode Adoption

Bitcoin’s symbol (₿) was added to Unicode 10.0 (2017) after a 1.5-year approval process. Prior proposals were rejected until Ken Sheriff’s 2015 submission succeeded.

Key Dates

2011: First symbol proposal (rejected).
2015: Revised proposal accepted.
2017: Included in Unicode 10.0.

FAQ

1. Is BTC or XBT the correct code?

Both are used, but XBT aligns with ISO 4217 standards.

2. How do I type the Bitcoin symbol?

On Windows: Alt+8383. On Mac: Install a supporting font and press Option+B.

3. Why wasn’t ₿ added to Unicode earlier?

Early proposals lacked consensus; Unicode’s review process is lengthy.

👉 Discover more about crypto symbols

Resources


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