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What Is Decimals (Token Precision)?

Definition

Decimals define how divisible a token is — a token with 9 decimals (standard for Solana SPL) can be divided into 0.000000001 units, while 18 decimals (ERC-20 standard) allows even finer division.

Decimals determine the smallest unit of your token. Just like a dollar divides into 100 cents (2 decimals), crypto tokens divide into much smaller units.

  • Solana SPL tokens — 9 decimals is the standard (same as SOL itself). 1 token = 1,000,000,000 smallest units.
  • Ethereum ERC-20 — 18 decimals is the standard (same as ETH). 1 token = 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 smallest units.
  • Base ERC-20 — same as Ethereum: 18 decimals.
  • Lower decimals (0-6) — common for stablecoins or tokens that represent whole units (USDC uses 6 decimals)
  • Standard decimals (9 or 18) — recommended for most tokens. Ensures compatibility with DEXes, wallets, and DeFi protocols.
  • Too many decimals with large supply — can cause display issues. 1 trillion tokens with 18 decimals requires very precise math.

CoinDevTools uses 9 decimals as the default for Solana and 18 for Ethereum/Base — matching the native chain conventions.

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