Are Ordinals the same as NFTs?

Ordinals inscriptions are similar to NFTs in concept — they represent unique digital items. However, they differ in key ways: inscriptions are fully on-chain (stored directly on Bitcoin), don't require smart contracts, and are attached to individual satoshis rather than tokens.

How much does it cost to inscribe?

The cost depends on the size of the data and the current Bitcoin network fee rate. Smaller files (optimized images, compressed text) cost less. Fees can range from a few dollars to hundreds depending on file size and network congestion.

Can inscriptions be deleted?

No. Once data is inscribed on Bitcoin, it is permanent. It becomes part of the blockchain and cannot be removed or altered.

A satoshi (sat) is the smallest unit of Bitcoin. 1 Bitcoin = 100,000,000 satoshis. Ordinal theory gives each satoshi a unique sequential number.

ORDFundamentals

What Are Bitcoin Ordinals?

A complete beginner-friendly guide to Bitcoin Ordinals — what they are, how they work, and why they matter for the future of Bitcoin.

1Simple Explanation

Bitcoin Ordinals are a way to attach data — images, text, video, code — directly to individual satoshis (the smallest unit of Bitcoin). Think of it like writing a note on a dollar bill, except the note is permanent and lives on the Bitcoin blockchain forever.

Each satoshi (there are 100 million in one Bitcoin) can be numbered in order based on when it was mined. This numbering system is called "Ordinal Theory." Once you assign data to a specific satoshi, that data becomes an inscription — a piece of digital content permanently stored on Bitcoin.

2Why It Matters

Before Ordinals, Bitcoin was primarily used for financial transactions. Ordinals opened up an entirely new use case: storing digital artifacts directly on the most secure blockchain in the world.

Unlike NFTs on Ethereum that often point to external servers for their content, Ordinals inscriptions are fully on-chain. The data lives inside Bitcoin transactions themselves, making them truly permanent and decentralized.

•This means:
•No external dependencies — your content doesn't rely on IPFS, AWS, or any third party
•Immutable — once inscribed, it cannot be altered or deleted
•Secured by Bitcoin — the most battle-tested blockchain network

3How It Works

•Ordinal Theory assigns a unique number to every satoshi based on the order it was mined
•Inscriptions attach arbitrary data to a specific satoshi using the Bitcoin transaction witness data (SegWit)
•The inscribed satoshi can then be transferred like any other Bitcoin, carrying its inscription with it
•Anyone can view an inscription by looking up its ID on an Ordinals explorer

The inscription process embeds data in a Bitcoin transaction's witness field, which was expanded by the Taproot upgrade in November 2021. This is what made Ordinals technically possible.

4Real-World Example

Imagine you create a pixel art image. Using an Ordinals inscription tool, you can:

•Convert that image to optimized bytes
•Create a Bitcoin transaction that embeds those bytes
•The transaction assigns the data to a specific numbered satoshi
•Now that satoshi is your pixel art — forever on Bitcoin

Collectors can buy, sell, and trade inscribed satoshis just like they would any Bitcoin, but now the satoshi carries unique digital content.

5Types of Inscriptions

Ordinals support many content types:

•Images (PNG, JPEG, WebP, SVG, GIF)
•Text (plain text, JSON, Markdown)
•HTML (interactive web pages and apps)
•Audio (MP3, WAV)
•Video (MP4, WebM)
•3D Models (GLB)
•Code (JavaScript, CSS)

The only practical limit is the Bitcoin block size (approximately 4MB per block).

6Getting Started

To start exploring Ordinals:

•Browse inscriptions using our explorer — search by inscription number, ID, or block
•Learn about rarity — some satoshis are more rare than others based on Bitcoin events
•Use our tools — compress images, create pixel art, and build HTML inscriptions to minimize fees
•Use a compatible wallet — wallets like Xverse, Hiro, and Unisat support Ordinals