NFT fans and crypto art makers have long found Bitcoin Ordinals, the ground-breaking technology that enables inscribing into the very heart of Bitcoin, to be a fascinating path. It’s not immune to the need for tweaking, though, like any technology that is still developing. The clever mind behind Bitcoin Ordinals, Casey Rodarmor, has put forth a tweak to the protocol’s numbering scheme, igniting discussions within the community.
From the inception of the Ordinals protocol, each nonfungible token (NFT) minted through it has been assigned a unique inscription number. These numbers have served as something akin to serial numbers, an essential part of the digital art created within the protocol. However, as the protocol has matured, Casey Rodarmor, Bitcoin Ordinals’ creator and chief coder, has come to a significant realization.
Rodarmor has asserted that maintaining stable inscription numbers has inadvertently led to the creation of what he calls “ugly code” and hindered the progress of development. It’s in light of this insight that he’s proposed a fundamental shift: to make these inscription numbers “permanently unstable.” This doesn’t mean scrapping the numbers entirely, but rather deprioritizing the current numbering system that assigns unique figures to inscriptions generated on the Bitcoin network.
I guess the cat is out of the bag! In short, I think that the effort to keep inscription numbers stable hasn't been worth it, and has led to ugly code and stalled development, since new changes need to be extremely and often awkardly careful not to change the numbers of old… https://t.co/SsEqjdtZFB
— Casey (@rodarmor) September 19, 2023
The Power of Simplification and Adaptation
Why this shift, you might wonder? According to Rodarmor, the motivation behind this change is to streamline the protocol’s codebase, making it more efficient and adaptable for future developments. This decision doesn’t imply a wholesale abandonment of the existing numbering system; instead, it proposes that these numbers will change, but not dramatically. The new inscription numbers will remain in close proximity to the old ones, with potential differences of just one unit.
As with any proposed change in the crypto world, there have been varied reactions from the community. While many have rallied behind Rodarmor’s proposal, citing its potential benefits for the protocol, there are concerns. Some users have invested substantially to obtain specific numbers and are understandably hesitant about the reorganization of these numbers.
However, it’s essential to note that the essence of Bitcoin Ordinals, the art and value it holds, remains intact. For those who have a particular attachment to inscription numbers, the ability to sort collectibles by timestamps offers a practical solution.
Related: Bitcoin Ordinals surpass 10M inscriptions as creator Rodarmor steps down
An Artistic Exploration of Bitcoin’s Essence
Bitcoin Ordinals represent a unique fusion of technology, art, and cryptocurrency. They enable the inscription into a satoshi, the smallest denomination of Bitcoin. Launched in January 2023, the protocol has seen thousands of inscriptions created on the BTC network. On August 21st, Bitcoin Ordinals accounted for a remarkable 84.9% of all activity on the Bitcoin network, underscoring its growing significance within the crypto art space.
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As Bitcoin Ordinals evolves, it highlights the flexibility and adaptability of blockchain technology. Casey Rodarmor’s proposal is a testament to the ongoing journey of innovation and improvement in the crypto world. While change can be met with mixed emotions, it often paves the way for new possibilities and a brighter future. In the case of Bitcoin Ordinals, it’s a step toward a simpler, more robust protocol that can continue to inspire artists and collectors alike.