Inscriptions
Data written directly into a blockchain transaction, most commonly on Bitcoin, to create or reference digital items such as images, text, or tokens.
Inscriptions are pieces of data embedded in a blockchain transaction, most famously on Bitcoin through the Ordinals protocol. Instead of only recording payments, a transaction can include text, images, code, or metadata that becomes part of the blockchain’s permanent record. On Bitcoin, inscriptions are associated with individual satoshis, the smallest units of BTC, making it possible to track and treat them like distinct digital artifacts.
They matter because they let people use Bitcoin for more than transferring value, such as publishing collectible art, storing small records, or creating token-like assets. A practical comparison is writing a note in the margin of a ledger entry: the main ledger still records the transaction, but the added note carries extra meaning. Inscriptions can increase demand for block space, which may raise fees during busy periods, and they are sometimes debated because they use Bitcoin’s limited storage capacity for non-payment data.
Other terms in Bitcoin
ASIC
A specialized computer chip built to do one task very efficiently, commonly used in Bitcoin mining to perform hashing calculations.
BTC
The ticker symbol for bitcoin, the native currency of the Bitcoin network.
Bitcoin
A decentralized digital currency and payment network that lets people send value without relying on a bank or central authority.
Block Height
A block height is the number that shows a block’s position in a blockchain, counted from the first block.