Bitcoin has now become a major player in the non-fungible token (NFT) space. In the first 200 days since the inaugural inscription, 1.14 million image-based inscriptions have been developed on the Bitcoin network, as highlighted in a new report from Galaxy Research.
That figure exceeds the total number of NFTs minted during their first 200-day period on the other major blockchain networks like Solana, Ethereum, and Polygon.
What are Bitcoin Ordinal Numbers?
In January 2023, Casey Rodarmor, a software engineer, introduced the Ordinals protocol. The protocol is a tool for embedding data directly into the Bitcoin blockchain. This protocol facilitates data integration into satoshis – the smallest Bitcoin unit with a value of 0.00000001 BTC.
The embed is known as ‘inscription’ and the data can range from videos and images to text and audio. Importantly, the enrolled satoshis give rise to digital artifacts native to the Bitcoin network, known as Bitcoin NFTs.
Market dynamics and trading volume
From January 1 to September 1, the total trading volume for Ordinals on Bitcoin was $596.4 million. That makes Bitcoin the third most popular network for NFT trading by volume, behind Ethereum and Solana. Interestingly, the activity around Ordinals has resulted in the longest period of unsettled Bitcoin transactions since early 2021.
Even when excluding BRC-20 tokens from Bitcoin’s cumulative Ordinal volume, Bitcoin still ranks third for digital collecting activity. Data shows that the top 50 BRC-20 tokens only made up 30% of all Ordinals volume.
Emerging technologies and dominant markets
The dominant platforms for trading Ordinals, as measured by daily volume, are OKX, Unisat and Magic Eden. The platforms claim market shares of 44%, 34% and 20% respectively. On the other hand, demand for ordinal numbers engraved on rare satoshis is growing, boosted by the introduction of massive infrastructures for assessing satoshi rarity and specialized marketplaces for rare satoshis.
An important innovation is the creation of Recursion. This strategy allows subscribers to develop ordinal numbers that exceed the default block size limit of 4 MB. This supports the development of high-resolution artwork at a small fraction of the cost normally required for minting inscriptions.
The takeaway
In September, the Ordinals Summit 2023 attracted more than 400 enthusiasts and specialists worldwide, with an emphasis on the world of Ordinals. This summit showcased a wide range of important revelations and progress, consisting of keynote addresses, various panel discussions, an art showcase and an unexpected appearance by a prominent personality.
Bitcoin’s growing involvement in the NFT industry represents a pivotal evolution for digital collectibles, introducing cutting-edge market dynamics and technological innovations. With significant trading volume and the unveiling of Recursion, Bitcoin appears poised to maintain its influential role in the non-fungible token landscape.
