2012: Colored Coins
It all began with Colored Coins, where specific properties were assigned to coins, allowing them to represent digital assets like stocks, bonds, or collectibles. This concept laid the groundwork for future NFTs on Bitcoin.
2015: Spells of Genesis
This blockchain-based trading card game featured in-game assets stored on the Bitcoin blockchain as Counterparty* tokens, marking an early example of collectible NFTs on the Bitcoin network.
*Counterparty, a protocol built on the Bitcoin blockchain, enabled users to create custom tokens.
2016: Rare Pepe
Rare Pepe, a collection of digital trading cards representing internet memes, was created as Counterparty tokens on the Bitcoin blockchain, further expanding the NFT space.
2021: Stacks 2.0
The Stacks 2.0 blockchain, connecting to the Bitcoin network, enabled smart contracts, NFTs, and decentralized applications.
Stacks 2.0 made it easier for developers to build NFT projects on the Bitcoin network.
2022: PEPERMANENT
Artist Chainleft minted PEPERMANENT, an entirely on-chain Bitcoin NFT experiment, signaling a new wave of NFT activity on the Bitcoin network
2023: Ordinals
Ordinals introduced a Bitcoin-native mechanism called Inscriptions, which allowed users to mint on-chain NFTs more affordably than on Ethereum.
This innovative approach sparked both excitement and controversy within the Bitcoin community.
The Ordinals Protocol
The Ordinals protocol enables the creation of NFTs on the Bitcoin network by inscribing metadata over individual satoshis, the smallest BTC denomination. This innovation offers a new, totally on-chain way to mint NFTs directly on Bitcoin.
Preparing to Mint a Bitcoin NFT
To mint a Bitcoin NFT, you will need some BTC and an Ordinals-compatible wallet, such as Xverse.
You will also need to ensure you have enough BTC to cover the minting fee, which can fluctuate depending on demand.
Minting Ordinals NFTs with gamma.io
While Ordinals Subscriptions offer a more direct way to mint Bitcoin NFTs, using gamma.io provides a more user-friendly and straightforward experience, especially for beginners.
Gamma.io is designed to simplify the process of minting Ordinals-style NFTs, making it an excellent choice for those new to the Bitcoin NFT ecosystem.