Inscriptions have become the hottest trend in the cryptocurrency space recently, with stories of staggering gains circulating everywhere. From BRC-20 tokens like ORDI skyrocketing thousands of percent to Ethereum inscriptions surging 300x in weeks—terms like "recursive inscriptions" and "ESC20" dominate conversations. But what exactly are inscriptions?
The Origin of Inscriptions
The concept was first introduced by the Ordinals Protocol on December 14, 2022.
Here’s a simple breakdown:
- The Ordinals Protocol is a system that assigns unique numbers to satoshis (the smallest unit of Bitcoin).
- It also allows data to be embedded into Bitcoin transactions—a process called inscribing.
- The embedded data is termed an inscription, and the satoshis carrying them gain uniqueness and scarcity.
"If Bitcoin is digital gold, inscriptions are crafted ornaments from that gold—sharing the same essence. Inscriptions embed arbitrary data into Bitcoin’s blockchain via transaction witnesses."
Key Features of Inscriptions (Must-Know!)
First-Come, First-Served
- Higher gas fees prioritize processing. Identical fees? Earlier transactions win.
Pro Tip: If minting progress exceeds 90%, increase gas to expedite completion.
- Higher gas fees prioritize processing. Identical fees? Earlier transactions win.
Uniqueness
- Once inscribed, no duplicates allowed—each inscription is one-of-a-kind.
Immutability
- Inscribed data cannot be altered, with zero risk of unlocks/airdumps.
Fair Access
- Open to all: No insider advantages—retail and whales compete equally.
Enhanced Security
- No smart contracts = no exploits, rug pulls, or scams.
These features fueled the BRC-20 inscription boom, offering a fairer, safer entry to early-stage investments.
Why the Sudden Hype?
The answer? Life-changing profits. Examples:
- ORDI: The first BRC-20 inscription, launched at $0.80 per 1,000 tokens, peaked at $37 each—a 46,000x gain.
- May 2023: New inscriptions yielded 10–20x returns overnight.
- Late 2023: Resurgences in SATS, CATS, and RATS delivered another wave of 10x surges.
Money talks—inscriptions shouted loudest.
FAQs
Q1: Are inscriptions only on Bitcoin?
A: Initially, yes. Now, Ethereum and other chains support them too (e.g., ESC20).
Q2: How do I mint inscriptions?
A: Use wallets compatible with Ordinals/BRC-20, set high gas fees, and act fast.
Q3: What’s the risk?
A: Volatility! Early exits are key—gains can reverse swiftly.
Final Thoughts
Inscriptions merge scarcity, fairness, and security—traits rare in traditional crypto. Whether you’re minting or trading, stay informed and agile.
Got questions? Drop them below!
**Notes**: