Bitcoin & money learning · Retrospective
Reconcile a payment in satoshis
Use integer units to make an audit easy to follow.
Source foundation
Ordinary Bitcoin transactions spend earlier outputs and create new outputs. Bitcoin developer guide: transactions.
A worked example
Suppose a practice ledger records 150,000 satoshis entering a transaction, 90,000 sent, and 58,500 returned. Subtracting the outputs from the inputs gives 1,500 satoshis. Now add a second recipient of 10,000 while holding the fee constant: change becomes 48,500, not 58,500.
Original hypothetical example. Amounts, people, events, and scenarios above are invented for learning; they are not historical observations or forecasts.
What to take from it
An arithmetic check can reveal an inconsistent description without predicting network conditions.
Try it on paper
Recalculate the example with a hypothetical 2,500-satoshi fee.
Keep the assumptions beside your answer. Check the result before applying the idea to a different situation.
Reading and limits
The linked source supports the foundation statement. The worked example and exercise are NAKAMOTO's educational analysis. This note does not establish current prices, product terms, investment suitability, or wallet compatibility.
Source reviewed 13 September 2026. For operational decisions, consult the current official documentation and the details of your own circumstances.