Bitcoin Ordinals are a system for numbering individual satoshis (the smallest unit of Bitcoin, 1 sat = 0.00000001 BTC) and attaching data to them. Created by Casey Rodarmor and launched in January 2023, the Ordinals protocol assigns a sequential number to every satoshi ever mined based on the order in which it was created.
This numbering system creates what Rodarmor calls "digital artifacts" -- essentially NFTs native to Bitcoin. By attaching data (images, text, HTML, audio, video, or any file type) to a numbered satoshi, you create an "inscription" that lives permanently on the Bitcoin blockchain.
The term "ordinal" refers to the sequential numbering: the first satoshi ever mined is ordinal 0, the second is ordinal 1, and so on. There are approximately 2.1 quadrillion satoshis in Bitcoin's total supply (21 million BTC x 100 million sats per BTC), each with a unique ordinal number.
Unlike Ethereum NFTs, which use smart contracts to point to off-chain data (usually stored on IPFS or centralized servers), Bitcoin inscriptions store the actual data on-chain in the witness portion of a Bitcoin transaction. The image, text, or file is literally embedded in the Bitcoin blockchain forever. No external dependencies. No IPFS links that might break. The data is as permanent as Bitcoin itself.
Inscriptions leverage two Bitcoin upgrades: SegWit (2017) and Taproot (2021). Here's how they work at a technical level.
SegWit (Segregated Witness) separated transaction signature data from the main transaction, placing it in a "witness" section. This witness data has a 75% fee discount compared to regular transaction data. Taproot extended this by allowing arbitrary data in witness scripts using a construct called script-path spending.
An inscription is created using a two-phase commit/reveal scheme:
A transaction is created that commits to a Taproot output containing the inscription data. This transaction doesn't reveal the data yet -- it just locks BTC to an address whose spending conditions include the inscription.
A second transaction spends the commit output, revealing the inscription data in the witness. The data is structured as:
OP_FALSE OP_IF OP_PUSH "ord" OP_PUSH 1 OP_PUSH [content-type] OP_PUSH 0 OP_PUSH [data] OP_ENDIF
The OP_FALSE OP_IF ... OP_ENDIF block means Bitcoin nodes never actually execute the inscription data -- it's stored but ignored by consensus rules. The "ord" tag identifies it as an Ordinals inscription.
Because inscription data lives in the witness, it's subject to Bitcoin's block weight limit of 4 MB (4,000,000 weight units). In practice, a single inscription can be up to about 400 KB, though theoretical limits approach the full block size. Larger inscriptions cost proportionally more in transaction fees.
Once inscribed, the data cannot be modified, deleted, or censored. It exists in a confirmed Bitcoin block that is secured by the entire Bitcoin mining network. As long as Bitcoin exists, the inscription exists. This is the strongest permanence guarantee available in all of digital technology.
| Feature | Bitcoin Ordinals | Ethereum NFTs (ERC-721) |
|---|---|---|
| Data Storage | On-chain (witness data) | Usually off-chain (IPFS, Arweave, centralized servers) |
| Smart Contracts | None -- pure data inscription | Required (Solidity contracts) |
| Permanence | As permanent as Bitcoin | Depends on storage provider |
| Royalties | Not enforced by protocol | Partially enforced (marketplace dependent) |
| Trading | PSBT-based (trustless) | Smart contract calls |
| Collection Structure | No native collections -- community defined | Native (each contract is a collection) |
| Gas/Fee Cost | Varies with BTC fees and data size | Varies with ETH gas price |
| Ecosystem Maturity | Growing rapidly (launched 2023) | Mature (launched 2017) |
| Network Security | Bitcoin hashrate (highest in crypto) | Ethereum proof-of-stake |
The fundamental philosophical difference: Ethereum NFTs are about programmability (royalties, access control, composability). Bitcoin Ordinals are about permanence and simplicity. An Ordinal inscription is just data on the most secure blockchain. No moving parts. No contract upgrades. No admin keys. Pure digital artifact.
The most common type. JPEG, PNG, WebP, GIF, and SVG images inscribed directly on Bitcoin. The SpunkArt ME collection on Magic Eden is an example -- art inscribed permanently on Bitcoin's base layer. Popular formats include pixel art (small file sizes, low fees) and generative art (SVG/HTML-based, infinitely scalable).
Plain text, JSON, and Markdown inscribed on-chain. BRC-20 tokens use JSON text inscriptions to deploy, mint, and transfer tokens. Text inscriptions are the cheapest to create because they're small.
Full HTML pages with embedded CSS and JavaScript, creating interactive experiences that run entirely on-chain. Games, generative art, and interactive tools have been inscribed on Bitcoin. The HTML is rendered in the browser, but the source code is stored on Bitcoin.
MP3, WAV, MP4, and WebM files can be inscribed, though the file size limit (~400 KB) constrains quality and duration. Short audio clips and compressed video loops are common.
A powerful feature where one inscription references another using the /content/[inscription_id] syntax. This allows on-chain composability: a single artwork can reference shared libraries, fonts, or assets inscribed separately. This dramatically reduces the cost of collections by sharing common code across multiple inscriptions.
The dominant Ordinals marketplace by volume and user base. Originally an Ethereum and Solana NFT platform, Magic Eden expanded to Bitcoin Ordinals and quickly became the market leader. Features include collection pages, rarity tools, activity feeds, and PSBT-based trustless trading. Magic Eden also supports Runes trading.
Originally an inscription service, OrdinalsBot has expanded into a full marketplace. Their core strength is the inscription pipeline: they offer a user-friendly interface for creating inscriptions with options for file type, fee level, and batch processing. They handle the commit/reveal transaction process automatically.
A Bitcoin-native marketplace focused on creator tools. Gamma offers no-code inscription creation, collection launches, and a curated marketplace. Particularly popular with artists who want a streamlined onboarding experience.
UniSat combines wallet functionality with an integrated marketplace for both Ordinals and BRC-20/Runes tokens. Strong among power users who want a single tool for all Bitcoin token activities.
OKX's multi-chain NFT marketplace includes Bitcoin Ordinals. Benefits from OKX's massive exchange user base, providing liquidity and visibility that smaller platforms can't match.
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Claim Free SPUNK & Win OrdinalsCreating your own Bitcoin inscription is more accessible than ever in 2026. Here is a step-by-step guide.
Choose what you want to inscribe. Images should be optimized for size: 100-200 KB is ideal. Larger files cost more in fees. Supported formats include PNG, JPEG, WebP, GIF, SVG, HTML, plain text, JSON, MP3, and MP4. For pixel art, PNG at low resolution keeps costs minimal.
OrdinalsBot -- The most popular. Upload your file, choose your fee rate, and they handle everything. Supports batch inscriptions for collections.
Gamma.io -- Clean UI, creator-friendly. Good for first-time inscribers.
UniSat -- Integrated with the UniSat wallet. Inscription + wallet in one tool.
ord CLI -- For technical users. Run your own Bitcoin node with the ord indexer and inscribe via command line. Full control.
You need BTC to pay for inscription fees. The cost depends on two factors: file size (more data = more block space = higher fee) and current network fee rate (sats/vByte). During low-fee periods, a small image inscription might cost $1-5. During high-fee periods, the same inscription could cost $20-100+.
Submit your file through your chosen service. They'll create the commit transaction, wait for confirmation, then create the reveal transaction. The entire process takes 20-60 minutes depending on network conditions and the fee rate you selected.
After both transactions confirm, your inscription is live on Bitcoin. You can view it on ordinals.com, Magic Eden, or any Ordinals explorer using its inscription ID. The data is now permanently on Bitcoin.
You need a wallet that understands Bitcoin Ordinals -- standard Bitcoin wallets will see the satoshi but not the inscription attached to it. Using a non-Ordinals wallet risks accidentally spending an inscribed satoshi as transaction fee.
| Wallet | Type | Ordinals | Runes | BRC-20 | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xverse | Mobile + Extension | Yes | Yes | Yes | All-around Bitcoin wallet |
| Leather | Browser Extension | Yes | Yes | Yes | Stacks ecosystem + Bitcoin |
| UniSat | Browser Extension | Yes | Yes | Yes | Power traders |
| Magic Eden Wallet | Browser Extension | Yes | Yes | No | Marketplace integration |
| OKX Web3 | Multi-platform | Yes | Yes | Yes | Multi-chain users |
Bitcoin now has two competing fungible token standards. Both were born from the Ordinals ecosystem but work very differently.
BRC-20 tokens use JSON text inscriptions to create and transfer fungible tokens. A deploy inscription defines the token (name, supply, limit per mint). Mint inscriptions create new tokens. Transfer inscriptions move tokens between addresses. Every operation requires a new inscription, making BRC-20 expensive and slow.
The key problem: each BRC-20 operation creates a new UTXO in Bitcoin's state. Millions of BRC-20 operations have created millions of tiny, economically useless UTXOs that bloat Bitcoin's UTXO set. This degrades network performance for everyone.
Runes use OP_RETURN outputs to encode fungible token data directly into Bitcoin transactions. No inscriptions needed. No junk UTXOs. Token balances attach to real UTXOs and move with standard Bitcoin transactions. Multiple rune transfers can occur in a single transaction.
Runes are technically superior: cheaper to transfer, cleaner chain state, and more efficient encoding. The SPUNK•BET rune is an example -- a gaming token that lives on Bitcoin's base layer with minimal chain impact.
New projects overwhelmingly choose Runes for fungible tokens. BRC-20 retains value in legacy tokens (ORDI, SATS) but the technical advantages of Runes make it the clear standard going forward. For ordinals (NFTs/inscriptions), the original Ordinals protocol remains the only option -- Runes are only for fungible tokens.
Casey Rodarmor defined a rarity system based on Bitcoin's periodic events. Not all satoshis are created equal.
| Rarity | Definition | Frequency | Total Supply |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common | Any satoshi that isn't first in its block | Every sat except firsts | ~2.1 quadrillion |
| Uncommon | First satoshi of each block | Every ~10 minutes | ~6,929,999 |
| Rare | First satoshi of each difficulty adjustment period | Every ~2 weeks | ~3,437 |
| Epic | First satoshi of each halving epoch | Every ~4 years | ~32 |
| Legendary | First satoshi of each cycle (halving + difficulty adjustment coincide) | Every ~24 years | ~5 |
| Mythic | The very first satoshi of the genesis block | Once | 1 |
Rarity affects the value of the satoshi itself, independent of any inscription. An "uncommon" satoshi is worth more than a "common" one. Inscribing on a rare satoshi creates a doubly valuable artifact: the inscription content plus the satoshi's inherent rarity.
Collectors track "sat hunting" -- scanning their UTXOs for uncommon or rare satoshis that might have ended up in their wallet through normal Bitcoin transactions.
You don't have to buy ordinals. Several platforms give them away as prizes, rewards, or promotional items.
At spunk.bet, top players win real Bitcoin Ordinal inscriptions as prizes. These are genuine on-chain inscriptions from the SpunkArt collection, sent directly to your Bitcoin wallet. The process is simple:
No deposit required. No KYC. No wallet connection needed to play. When you win an ordinal, you provide your Bitcoin address and it's sent to you on-chain.
Many Ordinals projects airdrop inscriptions to holders, active community members, or social media participants. Follow collections on X, join Discord servers, and participate in community events to qualify.
Artists and projects regularly give away inscriptions to build community and awareness. These often require simple tasks: following on X, retweeting, joining a Discord, or minting a free companion piece.
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Play Now at SPUNK BETNo. Once an inscription is confirmed in a Bitcoin block, it is permanently part of the blockchain. No entity can delete, modify, or censor it. The data is replicated across thousands of Bitcoin nodes worldwide. As long as Bitcoin exists, the inscription exists. This is the strongest permanence guarantee in digital technology.
The cost depends on file size and current Bitcoin fee rates. A small image (50 KB) during low-fee periods might cost $2-5. The same image during high-fee periods could cost $30-50. Large files (300+ KB) during high-fee periods can cost $100+. Text inscriptions are the cheapest, often under $1 during low-fee periods. Use a fee estimator before inscribing.
Ordinals are for non-fungible inscriptions (unique digital artifacts -- like NFTs). Runes are for fungible tokens (identical, interchangeable units -- like coins). They were created by the same developer but serve completely different purposes. You can't create a fungible token with ordinals, and you can't inscribe unique art with runes.
No. Standard Bitcoin wallets see the satoshi value but not the inscription. You need an Ordinals-aware wallet (Xverse, Leather, UniSat, Magic Eden Wallet) to view, manage, and safely transfer inscriptions. Using a non-aware wallet risks accidentally spending inscribed satoshis as transaction fees.
They're different, not objectively better or worse. Ordinals offer superior permanence (fully on-chain data) and security (Bitcoin's hashrate). Ethereum NFTs offer better programmability (royalties, access control, smart contract composability). If you value permanence and decentralization, Ordinals win. If you need complex functionality, Ethereum NFTs are more capable.
Yes. SPUNK BET at spunk.bet gives away real Bitcoin Ordinal inscriptions as prizes. Claim free SPUNK tokens daily and play to qualify. No purchase or deposit required. Community airdrops, giveaways, and social media contests from various Ordinals projects also distribute free inscriptions regularly.
Nothing. Your ordinals live on the Bitcoin blockchain, not on any marketplace. Marketplaces are just interfaces for viewing and trading. If Magic Eden disappeared tomorrow, your inscriptions would still exist on-chain and be accessible through any other Ordinals explorer or marketplace. Your wallet's private key is the only thing that controls your ordinals.