DeutschNFTs on the Bitcoin blockchain have long been a reality. But how can you create Bitcoin Ordinals and skip the node during the inscription process? Normally, this requires a fully synchronized network node. In the meantime, several service providers offer convenient solutions, allowing you to successfully create a non-fungible token of your choice in just a few minutes.
Creating Bitcoin Ordinals: How the Inscription Process Works
Ordinals is the name of a protocol introduced in January 2023 that enables native NFTs on Bitcoin. However, creator Casey Rodarmor doesn’t call these non-fungible tokens on Bitcoin NFTs, but usually refers to them as inscriptions or digital artifacts.
What are inscriptions?
In an inscription, data (such as an image, text, or code) is attached directly to an individual satoshi and thus permanently stored on the Bitcoin blockchain. Unlike classic NFTs on Ethereum, the content is stored entirely on-chain rather than on an external server.
Overview of Inscription Creation Methods
There are basically two ways to create an inscription:
- With your own node: Trustless, but technically demanding
- Via a third-party provider: Convenient, fast, and cost-effective
Which method is right for you depends on your own requirements. If you value maximum self-sovereignty, there’s no way around a node. For most users, however, specialized platforms are the much more practical choice.
Creating Bitcoin Ordinals with your own node
If you want to create inscriptions on your own, you need a Bitcoin node that must be fully synchronized. Over 600 gigabytes of data must be downloaded for this.
Afterward, the user still needs to download the Ord wallet, which Rodarmor programmed for using Ordinals. Once this has been funded with enough satoshis, inscriptions can be created.
Depending on how active a user already is with the Bitcoin blockchain, this process can take up to several hours. Many interested parties find the setup of a network node to be a significant hurdle.
You can find the official guide for trustless inscription creation on the official Ordinals website.
Creating Bitcoin Ordinals without a node
Numerous solutions now exist for conveniently creating inscriptions. These methods are not trustless, but they work with significantly less time investment.
The way these providers work is always the same: they operate one or more Bitcoin nodes themselves and handle your request in exchange for a fee. Overview of the most important platforms:
Gamma: Convenient inscription platform
Gamma.io has been one of the established go-to places for inscriptions since the beginning. The platform offers a wide range of network fee options and lists service fees transparently. The platform supports images, text, and GIFs, and deliberately targets beginners with a no-code interface. Practical: Inscriptions can be commissioned directly from compatible wallets like Xverse or Leather.
Unisat: All-in-one for Ordinals and BRC-20
Unisat was the first wallet built specifically for Bitcoin Ordinals and BRC-20. Today, Unisat is much more than just a wallet: the platform offers an integrated marketplace, an inscription tool, and additionally supports Runes, Alkanes, and Rare Sats. This makes Unisat particularly suitable for power users who want to not only create Ordinals but also trade and manage them.
Ordinals Bot as another alternative
Ordinals Bot works similarly to Gamma but focuses on image inscriptions. The operation is bundled on a single page, which makes the process particularly clear for beginners. Fees tend to be slightly higher than on Gamma.
Which wallet is suitable for Bitcoin Ordinals?
Choosing the right wallet is crucial. If a user sends their inscription to an incompatible address, it can result in a loss. Therefore, extreme caution is required when using Bitcoin NFTs.
Recommended Ordinals wallets
- Xverse: Popular mobile-first wallet with marketplace aggregation and automatic separation of Bitcoin and Ordinals addresses
- Unisat: Ideal for active users thanks to its inscription tool, marketplace, and broad asset support
- Leather (formerly Hiro): Mature Bitcoin wallet with Stacks integration
- Ordinals Wallet: Community-focused wallet with its own marketplace
The Ord Wallet, the project’s native wallet, is merely a product with a CLI user interface. Actions are performed in the command line. For most interested parties, this option is not a practical choice.
What you need to watch out for when sending from your wallet
Inscriptions are held on Taproot addresses (starting with bc1p). Pure Segwit addresses (bc1q) are not compatible with Ordinals. Experienced users also recommend never using the same address for Bitcoin payments and Ordinals at the same time. Otherwise, there is a risk that an inscription might be accidentally sent as part of a regular transaction. Modern wallets like Xverse separate these addresses automatically.
Bitcoin Ordinals Costs: How much does it cost to create an inscription?
The costs for an inscription consist of two components: the Bitcoin network fees and a service fee from the provider. Network fees depend directly on the current blockchain load and the file size. Larger files cost correspondingly more.
If you want to save on costs, you should optimize the file size before the inscription. Platforms like Gamma handle this automatically; alternatively, websites like Tinypng or Squoosh help with manual compression. Another way to reduce costs is through so-called Recursive Inscriptions: these reference libraries already stored on-chain instead of uploading them again.
Conclusion: What you should know about creating Bitcoin Ordinals
What started as a task for tech-savvy Bitcoiners with their own nodes can now be done in just a few clicks. Platforms like Gamma and Unisat have simplified the process to the point where practically any Bitcoin user can create their own inscriptions—provided they use a compatible Taproot wallet and pay attention to the correct addresses.
As the ecosystem continues to mature, costs are likely to drop further and tools will become even more convenient. If you want to experiment, you should start with small inscriptions and make sure before every transfer that the recipient address actually supports Ordinals.
Frequently Asked Questions about creating Bitcoin Ordinals
- Do I need my own node to create Bitcoin Ordinals?
No. While the original method requires a fully synchronized Bitcoin node, third-party providers like Gamma, Unisat, or Ordinals Bot now allow inscription with just a few clicks. These methods are not trustless, but they are significantly faster and easier.
- How much does it cost to create a Bitcoin inscription?
The cost depends on the file size and current network congestion. There is also a service fee from the respective provider. Compressing the file before inscription helps keep costs down.
- Which wallet is best for Bitcoin Ordinals?
Specialized wallets like Xverse, Unisat, Leather, or Ordinals Wallet are recommended. It’s important that the wallet supports Taproot addresses (starting with
bc1p). Native SegWit addresses are not suitable for Ordinals.
