Bitcoin Ordinals, a new innovation in the Web3 ecosystem, has taken the Dapp community by storm. Created by software engineer Casey Rodarmor, this protocol has gained a significant following since its launch on January 21.
With over 7.4 million Ordinals minted, it is clear that this new form of digital asset has captured the attention of many. However, there is still some confusion surrounding Bitcoin Ordinals, particularly regarding how to buy or create them.
One of the distinguishing features of Ordinals compared to other non-fungible tokens (NFTs) is their “completeness.” While many NFTs require off-chain data, Ordinals store all of their data directly on the blockchain, earning them the label of “digital artifacts” from Rodarmor. He believes that Ordinals represent what NFTs should be and what inscriptions inherently are. Interestingly, Ordinals do not have creator royalties attached to them, which is a common characteristic of traditional NFTs.
The introduction of Bitcoin Ordinals not only brings a cultural shift to the Bitcoin landscape but also offers a potential technical upgrade to NFTs. This development has led to the emergence of intriguing collections and impressive sales, with notable examples being Ordinal Punks and TwelveFold. In the past 30 days alone, these collections have seen trading volumes of 11.85 BTC and 14.9 BTC respectively, highlighting their popularity.
However, the rise of Bitcoin Ordinals and the BRC-20 token standard, which facilitates the deployment of meme coins on the Bitcoin blockchain, has raised concerns among Bitcoin enthusiasts. The BRC-20 standard has experienced substantial growth, resulting in the creation of over 18,000 new tokens and a total market capitalization of approximately $546 million. Ordi, the native asset of the Ordinals Protocol, accounts for a significant 67% of the entire BRC-20 market cap.
These innovations have put a strain on the Bitcoin network, leading to a backlog of unconfirmed transactions and increased fees. The surge in transaction demand caused fees to skyrocket to $31 on May 8, 2023. Although the fee has since dropped to $5.6, it remains relatively high, especially when compared to the $1.20 fee observed in mid-April.
One positive aspect of this increased activity is the boost in miner fees, which enhances the overall security of the Bitcoin blockchain. While the scarcity of blockspace on the Bitcoin network has long been a scalability concern, the recent surge in fees indicates a growing number of people utilizing Bitcoin for non-financial purposes, such as creating and trading Ordinals, as well as engaging in token speculation.
The emergence of Bitcoin Ordinals and the associated rise of the BRC-20 token standard highlight the ongoing evolution of the Web3 ecosystem. While these innovations have brought excitement and new possibilities, they have also presented challenges for the Bitcoin network. As the Web3 landscape continues to evolve, it will be crucial to find solutions that balance innovation and scalability to ensure the sustainable growth of the decentralized ecosystem.
Read more:
- OKX Launches BRC20 Token Trading And BTC Cross-Chain Swap On Ordinals Trading Market
- The Impact Of BRC-20 Tokens On The Bitcoin Ecosystem