Bitcoin has entered its 14th year, and with the growth of the altcoin sector, new use cases of blockchain technology have emerged, such as NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) ππ¨. The ordinals protocol brings on-chain NFTs to the bitcoin blockchain, expanding its use beyond peer-to-peer transactions. NFTs have grown exponentially in popularity in recent years, particularly on Ethereum and Solana blockchains, as they represent digital ownership of assets such as artwork, music, and videos ππ.
Bitcoin's ordinals protocol allows users to inscribe each satoshi (unit of bitcoin) with data, enabling the attachment of digital assets directly to the bitcoin blockchain π»π. This differs from Ethereum or Solana NFTs, which remain off-chain on an Interplanetary File System (IPFS) π. Ordinals are considered the most irreversible and permanent form of NFTs, and their creator Casey Rodarmor refers to them as digital artifacts rather than NFTs πΊ.
The growing popularity of the ordinals protocol has led to debates within the bitcoin community about its primary purpose π£. While some view the protocol as a positive step towards widespread adoption, others fear that adding NFTs will complicate bitcoin's intended use for verifying financial transactions πΈ.
Platforms like Gamma are working to simplify the process of creating and trading ordinal NFTs on bitcoin, and more marketplaces and wallets may soon offer native support for ordinals ππΌ. As bitcoin's ordinals protocol continues to develop, its impact on the adoption and functionality of the cryptocurrency remains to be seen ππ.
To dive deeper, check out the complete article: https://droomdroom.com/a-guide-to-bitcoin-ordinals-nfts-a-new-era-of-digital-art-ownership/