In the world of the Ordinals protocol, every nonfungible token (NFT) comes with its own distinctive inscription number, much like a serial code. These inscription numbers have long been an integral part of the digital art produced within the protocol. However, Casey Rodarmor, the brain behind Bitcoin Ordinals, is of the opinion that maintaining these stable inscription numbers has led to a cumbersome and intricate codebase, which, in turn, has impeded the development progress.
To tackle this challenge head-on, Rodarmor has put forth a radical proposal – to render inscription numbers “permanently unstable.” In essence, this means that the numbering system responsible for assigning unique numbers to inscriptions on the Bitcoin network will be de-prioritized. While this new numbering system will usher in changes to inscription numbers, it won’t do away with them entirely. Rodarmor has reassured that the new numbers will closely resemble the old ones, with differences of only around 1%.
The core objective behind this proposal is to streamline the Ordinals protocol’s codebase, making it more agile and adaptable to future changes. While some members of the community have expressed concerns about how this will affect users who have invested in specific numbers, others have noted that individuals interested in the numbering of inscriptions can still sort collectibles based on timestamps.
Bitcoin Ordinals is a groundbreaking protocol that allows for inscriptions on individual satoshis, the smallest unit of Bitcoin. Launched in January 2023, it has witnessed the minting of thousands of inscriptions on the Bitcoin network. At its zenith on August 21, the protocol accounted for a staggering 84.9% of all activity on the Bitcoin network.
This proposed transformation underscores the dynamic nature of blockchain protocols as developers continually strive to enhance and optimize their functionality.
