How to Participate in Bitcoin Ordinals: Minting Your First Inscription
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The advent of Bitcoin Ordinals in 2026 has transformed the network beyond just a monetary ledger, allowing users to inscribe digital artifacts directly onto individual satoshis. If you're looking to mint your first inscription, here's how to get started:
Step 1: Get an Ordinals-Compatible Wallet: You'll need a wallet that supports Ordinals, typically a non-custodial wallet like Leather Wallet (formerly Hiro Wallet) or Xverse. Download and set it up, ensuring you securely back up your seed phrase.
Step 2: Fund Your Wallet: Send some Bitcoin to your Ordinals wallet. Remember that inscriptions require transaction fees, which can vary based on network congestion and the size of your file. Factor in extra for the inscription fee itself.
Step 3: Choose Your Content: Decide what you want to inscribe. This could be an image, text, audio, or even a small video file. Ensure it adheres to the size limits and file types supported by the Ordinals protocol and your chosen minting service.
Step 4: Use an Inscription Service (or Run Your Own Node): For most users, using a third-party inscription service (e.g., Gamma.io, OrdinalsBot) is the easiest route. Upload your file, provide your receiving address from your Ordinals wallet, and the service will generate the transaction for you.
Step 5: Review and Confirm: The service will provide an estimated cost. Carefully review all details before confirming the transaction from your wallet. Once confirmed, your inscription will be broadcast to the Bitcoin network and, upon confirmation, will be permanently etched onto a satoshi.
Participating in Ordinals allows you to own truly immutable digital art and collectibles directly on the most secure blockchain.