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What is Inscription (Ordinals)?
Inscriptions embed data (images, text, code) directly into Bitcoin transactions. Bitcoin Ordinals brought NFTs to Bitcoin, creating BRC-20 tokens and a new ecosystem.
Full Explanation
Inscriptions use Bitcoin's Taproot upgrade to embed arbitrary data (images, HTML, JSON) into individual satoshis (the smallest Bitcoin unit). Casey Rodarmor launched the Ordinals protocol in January 2023, enabling "Bitcoin NFTs." This led to BRC-20 tokens (fungible tokens on Bitcoin), Runes (a more efficient fungible token standard), and a renaissance of Bitcoin development. Inscriptions sparked debate: Bitcoin maximalists say they waste block space, while supporters say they increase miner revenue and expand Bitcoin's utility.
Related Terms
Last updated: 2026-03-21
