Bitcoin Symbol (₿): Unicode U+20BF Meaning, Copy & Paste, and Usage Guide

·

The Bitcoin symbol (₿) is more than just a typographic character—it's a digital-age emblem of decentralized finance, technological innovation, and the global shift toward cryptocurrency. Officially recognized in the Unicode Standard as U+20BF, this symbol allows users to represent Bitcoin in a consistent, universal format across devices, platforms, and languages.

Whether you're a developer integrating the symbol into code, a content creator formatting financial articles, or simply curious about digital currency symbols, understanding the technical and cultural significance of ₿ enhances both communication and credibility in the crypto space.

👉 Discover how to use cryptocurrency symbols effectively in digital finance today.

What Is the Bitcoin Symbol (₿)?

The Bitcoin sign (₿) belongs to the Currency Symbols block in the Unicode Standard. It was officially added in Unicode version 10.0, released in 2017, marking a major milestone for the cryptocurrency’s mainstream recognition.

Before its inclusion, Bitcoin lacked a standardized symbol, leading to inconsistent representations such as BTC, XBT, or stylized versions of the letter "B" with two vertical lines. The adoption of ₿ brought uniformity, allowing seamless integration into financial systems, messaging apps, websites, and operating systems worldwide.

Key Unicode Properties

This universal encoding ensures that when you type or display ₿, it appears correctly across modern platforms—from iOS and Android to Windows, macOS, and Linux—provided the font supports it.

Technical Encoding: UTF-8, UTF-16, and UTF-32

For developers and system architects, precise knowledge of character encoding is essential. Below are the standard encodings for the Bitcoin symbol:

UTF-8

UTF-16BE (Big Endian)

UTF-16LE (Little Endian)

UTF-32BE

UTF-32LE

These values allow accurate handling of the symbol in programming environments, databases, network protocols, and internationalization (i18n) frameworks.

How to Use the Bitcoin Symbol in Different Platforms

Integrating ₿ into digital content varies by context. Here’s how to use it across common development and publishing environments.

HTML

Use the numeric character reference:

₿ or ₿

Example: Price: ₿0.5 renders as Price: ₿0.5

CSS

Insert via content property using Unicode escape:

::before {
  content: "\20BF";
}

JavaScript & JSON

Use Unicode escape sequence:

"\u20BF" // Returns ₿

Programming Languages (C, Java, PHP, Unix)

printf("\xE2\x82\xBF"); // UTF-8 byte sequence

Or use wide characters if supported:

wchar_t btc = 0x20BF;

URL Encoding

While not typically used in URLs directly, the percent-encoded form is:

%E2%82%BF

👉 Learn how to implement cryptocurrency symbols in real-world fintech applications.

Copy and Paste Bitcoin Symbol (₿)

Need to use the symbol right away? Simply copy it from here:

₿

Paste it into social media posts, financial reports, chat messages, or website content. Most modern fonts like Arial, Segoe UI, and Noto Sans now support the Bitcoin symbol.

💡 Tip: On some older systems or mobile devices, the symbol may appear as a blank box or question mark if the font doesn’t include U+20BF. Consider pairing it with “BTC” in parentheses for clarity: ₿ (BTC).

Related Currency Symbols

The Bitcoin sign sits among other globally recognized currency symbols in the Unicode standard. Familiarizing yourself with these enhances multilingual financial communication.

These symbols collectively represent over 150 national and digital currencies used in international trade and digital finance.

Core Keywords for SEO

To align with search intent and improve discoverability, here are the primary keywords naturally integrated throughout this article:

These terms reflect high-volume queries from users seeking technical details, visual representation, and implementation methods for the Bitcoin sign.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the Unicode code for the Bitcoin symbol?

The Bitcoin symbol is assigned U+20BF in the Unicode Standard. This allows consistent rendering across software and devices that support modern character encoding.

How do I type the Bitcoin symbol on my keyboard?

There’s no universal keyboard shortcut, but you can:

Why was the Bitcoin symbol added to Unicode?

Unicode inclusion ensures global interoperability. With official encoding, developers can integrate ₿ into apps, exchanges, wallets, and financial reports without compatibility issues.

Does every device display ₿ correctly?

Most modern devices do—but older systems or unsupported fonts may show a placeholder (like □). Using fallback text like “BTC” improves readability.

Can I use ₿ in domain names or email addresses?

No. The symbol cannot be used in domain names or email addresses due to ASCII limitations in DNS and email protocols. Stick to "BTC" in those contexts.

Is there a difference between ₿ and BTC?

Yes. ₿ is the official Unicode currency symbol, while BTC is the ISO-style ticker code. Think of it like € vs EUR—the symbol vs the code.

👉 See how leading platforms standardize cryptocurrency symbols in global trading interfaces.

The Bitcoin symbol (₿) stands at the intersection of technology, finance, and design. Its adoption into Unicode reflects Bitcoin’s evolution from niche experiment to globally recognized asset class. As digital currencies continue to reshape economies, mastering their representation—starting with simple symbols—becomes a vital skill for developers, writers, traders, and innovators alike.