Bitcoin is about to undergo a 1:1000000 "stock" split. essentially, they want a base unit and a second unit being 1:100 of the first. https://bitcoinfoundation.org/press-releases/press-release-october-7-2014-bitcoin-foundation-financial-standards-working-group-leads-the-way-for-mainstream-bitcoin-adoption-2/ We already have two units: bitcoin and satoshi Therefore, the only way to make this possible would be to recalculate bitcoin as 100 satoshi (deep inside everything is measured in satoshis anyway). So, everyone with a current BTC will suddenly discover that he or she will have 1000000 bitcoins (officially called XBT from then on). I think that this will put new bitcoin/XBT on a path that will eventually lead to XBT=~$1 with each satoshi=~1c. How long it might take-maybe 20 years. If this happens, current BTC would equal $1,000,000
Coinbase has been using "bits": 1 BTC = 1,000,000 bits, 1 bit = 100 satoshi
So now the proposal wants to use: 1 BTC = 1,000,000 bitcoins , 1 bitcoin = 100 satoshi ?
I know, this is confusing, however since they will call a base unit XBT, there is no way they can call XBT "bit" because "bitcoin" is instantly recognizable, but "bit" is not. I think that they are aiming to have just two units: bitcoin (XBT) and satoshi. If they will try to replace bitcoin with a term "bit" for XBT, there will be a huge resistance. However, if they simply recalculate bitcoin (XBT) as 100 satoshi instead of 100000000 satoshi, then they have a chance for the transition to go smoother.
Sounds like a reasonable proposition that could remove some barriers/confusion for the average Joe. Change is never easy, but it is occasionally worthwhile. And hey, Cheap Coins