How to Inscribe on Bitcoin
Step-by-step guide to creating your first Bitcoin Ordinals inscription — from preparing your file to broadcasting the transaction.
1Simple Explanation
Inscribing on Bitcoin means permanently attaching a piece of data (an image, text, HTML, etc.) to a specific satoshi on the Bitcoin blockchain. It's like engraving something into digital stone — once it's there, it stays forever.
2Why It Matters
Inscribing lets you create truly permanent digital artifacts. Unlike traditional cloud storage or even other blockchains, Bitcoin inscriptions:
- •Are fully on-chain — no external hosting needed
- •Are immutable — cannot be changed or deleted
- •Benefit from Bitcoin's security — the most decentralized network
- •Have no ongoing costs — you pay once, it lasts forever
3Step 1: Prepare Your File
Before inscribing, optimize your file to minimize fees:
- •Images: Use our Image Compress tool to convert to WebP or optimize PNG. Aim for under 50KB for affordable fees.
- •Pixel Art: Use our Pixel Studio to create optimized sprite sheets
- •HTML: Use our Inscription Creator to build self-contained HTML files
- •Text: Use our Text Compress tool for efficient encoding
Smaller files = lower fees. Every byte costs satoshis.
4Step 2: Choose a Wallet
You need a Bitcoin wallet that supports Ordinals:
- •Xverse — Popular mobile and desktop wallet with built-in inscription support
- •Hiro Wallet — Browser extension with Ordinals support
- •Unisat — Browser wallet purpose-built for Ordinals
- •Leather — Formerly Hiro, redesigned wallet with Ordinals features
Make sure your wallet is funded with enough BTC to cover the inscription fee plus network fees.
5Step 3: Use an Inscription Service
Several services make inscribing easy:
- •Connect your wallet to an inscription service
- •Upload your prepared file
- •Set your fee rate (higher = faster confirmation)
- •Review the total cost
- •Confirm and sign the transaction
- •Wait for the transaction to be mined into a block
Once confirmed, your inscription is live and permanent on Bitcoin.
6Step 4: Verify Your Inscription
After your transaction is confirmed:
- •Find your inscription ID (usually provided by the service)
- •Use our inscription explorer to look it up
- •Verify the content displays correctly
- •Check the inscription number — this is your inscription's permanent identifier
Your inscription is now part of Bitcoin's history.