Ordinals

Ordinals is a protocol that enables the creation of unique digital artifacts directly on the Bitcoin blockchain. It achieves this by assigning serial numbers to individual satoshis, Bitcoin's smallest unit, making each one uniquely identifiable and trackable. This system allows for the inscription of various forms of data, including images, text, and video, directly onto these numbered satoshis, effectively creating immutable digital assets.

The Ordinals protocol was created by Bitcoin developer Casey Rodarmor, who introduced the concept in December 2022. Rodarmor's insight was to leverage the inherent fungibility of satoshis to imbue them with non-fungible properties, utilizing unused capacity within Bitcoin blocks. His work built upon the established principles of Bitcoin to unlock new functionalities for digital ownership and expression within its secure framework.

The protocol serves a growing community of users interested in minting, collecting, and trading these inscribed digital artifacts. Ordinals expands the utility of the Bitcoin blockchain beyond its traditional role as a monetary network, envisioning a future where it also acts as a robust foundation for verifiable digital scarcity and persistent digital collectibles, fostering new forms of creative and economic activity.