Inscriptions

Ord—open-source software that can run on top of any Bitcoin full node—was the technology originally used for such functionality.

It allowed individual Satoshis (the smallest units of BTC) to be tracked, giving rise to the concept of “Ordinal Theory,” which ascribes a unique identifier to every single Satoshi on the Bitcoin network.

Ordinal Theory is what allows users to "inscribe" arbitrary content onto individual Satoshis, transforming them into digital artifacts that can represent text, images, videos, and more.

These Inscriptions came to be known simply as “Ordinals.” They are the epitome of Bitcoin-native digital assets and are thought of as Bitcoin’s version of NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens).