Managing Ordinals

The Ordinals protocol

The Ordinals protocol is a system for numbering Satoshis (sats), the smallest units of Bitcoin, giving each satoshi a serial number and tracking them across transactions. Satoshis are numbered based on the order in which they were mined and transferred.

The numbering scheme relies on the order satoshis are mined, while the transfer scheme relies on the order of transaction inputs and outputs. Hence the name “ordinals.” Ordinals allow users to make individual satoshis unique by attaching extra data to them. This process is known as “inscription.” Users can inscribe a sat with arbitrary data (text or .jpg, .webp, .png, .mp3, etc.) to give it its unique characteristics, defined as a digital artifact.

Taken together, the combined functions of 1) identifying and tracking satoshis as Ordinals, and 2) inscribing them with unique arbitrary data imbues them with the same characteristics as traditional NFTs — but without the need for smart contracts. Ordinals reside fully on the blockchain and do not require a sidechain or separate token. In this sense, ordinal inscriptions inherit the simplicity, immutability, security, and durability of Bitcoin itself.

To receive and store Bitcoin Ordinals, Bitcoin wallets like Hiro Wallet and Xverse use a unique address that is separate from your primary Bitcoin wallet address. For the reason that standard Bitcoin addresses are not suitable for this purpose.

Meanwhile Asigna is a Bitcoin multisig that not only supports Bitcoin Ordinals, making it easy to manage them through its user-friendly interface, but also uses single address, suitable both for Bitcoin token and Ordinals.

Create Ordinals

As an example, for inscription of Bitcoin Ordinals on the Bitcoin Mainnet, we will use https://gamma.io/ordinals. For inscription of Bitcoin Ordinals on the Bitcoin Testnet, you can use https://testnet.inscribable.xyz/ with similar inscription flow.

➱ Open the Asigna multisig app: Navigate to the Asigna multisig app in your web browser: https://btc.asigna.io/

➱ Navigate to external extension: On the main safe page locate Collectibles section and click "Add new" button.

➱ On the appeared screen choose a marketplace and click on it. You will be redirected to the chosen marketplace. For this example, we will use https://gamma.io/ordinals

➱ Choose one of two available types: image or text.

➱ Upload the image or input the text.

➱ Set your transaction fee, a higher fee can be used to get your transaction processed before others.

➱ Go to Asigna app and obtain your multisig safe address.

➱ Go back to the Gamma page to paste your safe address.

➱ Review the order details and continue.

➱ Complete your transaction by using these details for the BTC payment. Click "Continue" on the gamma.io after the BTC transaction has been broadcast.

Once the payment process is completed, you can locate a newly inscribed Bitcoin Ordinal in the Collectibles tab of your Asigna multisig safe.