What Are Bitcoin Ordinals Wallets?

With the emergence of the Ordinals protocol, numerous Bitcoin Ordinals wallets have become available, enabling Ordinals collectors to securely store and manage their Ordinals, BRC-20, Runes, and Rares Sats.  

Read on to learn more about Bitcoin Ordinals, Ordinals wallets, and what you need to look out for when selecting one.

What Are Bitcoin Ordinals?

Before we explore Ordinals wallets, let’s briefly take a look at what Bitcoin Ordinals are.

Bitcoin Ordinals refer to unique digital assets on Bitcoin created by inscribing metadata on individual satoshis. 

Based on Ordinal Theory and brought to life by the Ordinals protocol, Bitcoin Ordinals have birthed a new market for digital artifacts on the Bitcoin blockchain. 

Ordinals Theory, developed by Casey Rodarmor, proposes assigning ordinal numbers to individual satoshis in the order in which they are mined, allowing them to be identified and tracked throughout the existing Bitcoin supply. The Ordinals protocol allows for the inscription of satoshis with data, such as text, images, or videos.

Ordinal inscriptions, also known as digital artifacts, refer to the metadata inscribed onto satoshis. They can represent various assets, including music, digital art, videos, and collectibles, creating non-fungible tokens on the Bitcoin blockchain. 

Native to Bitcoin, Ordinal inscriptions are immutable, decentralized, and unrestricted. These characteristics differentiate digital artifacts from traditional NFTs that typically store part of their metadata off-chain with centralized storage providers, exposing them to centralization, loss, and censorship risks.

Since launching in January 2023, the Ordinals market has grown tremendously. Currently, more than 69 million inscriptions exist, including digital artifacts and Ordinal-based tokens like BRC-20 tokens.

What Is a Bitcoin Ordinals Wallet?

An Ordinals wallet is a Bitcoin wallet that is compatible with the Ordinals protocol, enabling you to securely store, manage, view, send, and receive Ordinal inscriptions.

Ordinals wallets are Taproot-enabled, which is a requirement to interact with the Ordinals protocol. Moreover, Ordinals wallets are typically non-custodial, giving you complete control and ownership of your Ordinals collections. 

Ordinals wallets enable you to manage your Ordinals and seamlessly buy, sell, and inscribe Ordinals by connecting your wallet to Ordinals marketplaces. 

How to Choose the Best Ordinals Wallet? Here’s What You Need to Look for!

There are several factors to consider when choosing an Ordinals wallet that’s right for you. Let’s take a look at them. 

User-friendly interface

An easy-to-use interface is essential when choosing an Ordinals wallet. Whether you are using a web-based or mobile wallet, navigation should be intuitive, and features and functionalities should be easy to find and use. 

Non-custodial setup

A good Ordinals wallet should be non-custodial, giving you complete control over your private keys. Your wallet’s private key is represented as a 12 or 24-word passphrase that allows you to access and manage your crypto assets rather than relying on a third party to custody them. 

Feature-rich 

The best Ordinals wallets are feature-rich, enabling you to explore and interact fully with the Ordinals ecosystem. In addition to storing, sending, and receiving inscriptions, an Ordinals wallet should provide features such as enabling you to see if you hold any rare sats and allowing you to connect to all major marketplaces and dApps. 

Marketplace integrations

It’s essential to choose an Ordinals wallet that integrates with all leading Ordinals marketplaces to enable you to seamlessly collect and trade a wide range of Ordinal inscriptions. 

Fiat on-ramp capabilities

Since you need BTC to purchase Ordinals, you should choose a wallet that enables you to buy bitcoin directly within the app. An in-app fiat-to-bitcoin on-ramp is convenient because then you don’t have to leave the wallet to buy BTC on a crypto exchange.

Robust wallet security

Your crypto assets are only as secure as your wallet. Therefore, you should choose a wallet that provides security elements such as two-factor authentication, biometric authentication, an auto-lock timer, passwords, and PINs. One or several of these features can boost the security of your assets. 

What Is the Best Wallet for Ordinals? 

Deciding which Ordinals wallet is best for you as a Bitcoin Ordinals collector will depend on your individual needs and preferences. 

For example, if you prefer to navigate the Ordinals ecosystem on your computer, a Chrome extension Ordinals wallet is probably the right choice for you. Conversely, if you prefer to manage your Ordinals collections on the go, a mobile wallet will likely be the better choice. Alternatively, if you are a dedicated collector with deep pockets looking to HODL Ordinals for the long term, a hardware wallet might be the right option for you. 

Best Ordinals Wallet for Android, iOS & Chrome

Xverse is arguably the best Bitcoin Ordinals wallet, enabling you to securely store, manage, send, and receive inscriptions on Android and iOS devices as well as on your Chrome browser. 

The Xverse Ordinals wallet connects seamlessly to all leading Ordinals marketplaces and supports Ordinals-based token standards, such as BRC-20. 

Moreover, Xverse lets you know if you have rare satoshis. So, if you are holding an epic sat, Xverse will list it in a special category, enabling you to identify it so you don’t accidentally spend it in a transaction.

Best Ordinals Wallet for Cold Storage 

If you have amassed a sizable collection of Ordinal inscriptions, it’s probably a good idea to store some, if not all, of your Ordinals in cold storage. 

Ledger is arguably the best hardware wallet for Ordinals. You can connect Ledger to your Xverse wallet to interact seamlessly with the Ordinals market while keeping your collections securely offline. That means you can send, receive, manage, and trade your Ordinals inscriptions while enjoying the added security of a hardware wallet. 

Xverse: Your Gateway to the Exciting World of Bitcoin Ordinals

Xverse isn’t just a Bitcoin wallet. It’s your gateway to the brave new world of Bitcoin Ordinals, providing all the necessary features and functionalities you would look for in an Ordinals wallet. 

The leading Ordinals wallet integrates with all major platforms, identifies rare sats, and displays the inscribed content of an inscription, be it an image or text. It also shows you the estimated floor price of popular collections you own.  

Furthermore, Xerse supports other Bitcoin-native assets, such as Bitcoin, BRC-20 tokens, and Runes.

Finally, Xverse comes packed with security features you can leverage to safeguard your Ordinals, such as biometric authentication, Ledger device integration, password, PIN, and auto-lock timer. 

Download the Xverse Ordinals wallet today to start buying, trading, and collecting Ordinals.

FAQs

What is an Ordinals wallet?

An Ordinals wallet is software or hardware that allows you to store the private keys to your Ordinal inscriptions. Wallets that support Ordinals are Bitcoin wallets with Taproot wallet addresses. Also, Ordinals wallets are usually non-custodial, meaning they give users full control over their funds. Xverse is an example of an Ordinals wallet. 

Are Ordinals wallets safe?

Ordinals wallets are safe because they don’t actually store your inscriptions. Rather, they store the private keys to your digital artifacts, which “live” safely on the blockchain. However, you must practice security measures like adding a PIN and biometric authentication to your wallet to keep your wallet’s private keys safe. Also, it’s important to back up your private key by writing it on paper and storing it in a safe to avoid losing your assets forever.

How are Ordinals stored?

The content of an Ordinals inscription is stored in the witness section of a transaction. This portion of a transaction was introduced by the SegWit upgrade in 2017. It divided the Bitcoin transaction structure into a witness and transaction part to improve storage efficiency. 

The witness part of a Bitcoin transaction typically stores signatures, while the transaction portion holds information about the sender and receiver.

What is the best wallet for Ordinals?

Xverse is the best wallet for Ordinals because it provides a beginner-friendly user experience paired with all the features you would like to see in an Ordinals wallet, from marketplace integrations and fiat on-ramp capabilities to the ability to identify rare sats and showcase all your Ordinal inscriptions. Moreover, users who want to enjoy the benefits of cold storage can connect their Xverse wallets to their Ledger devices.

Can I send BTC to an Ordinals wallet?

Yes, you can send BTC to an Ordinals wallet. The Ordinals protocol is native to Bitcoin, meaning its transactions are dominated in BTC. As a result, you cannot buy or send Ordinals without BTC in your wallet. This is why all Ordinals wallets support BTC. For example, Xverse permits users to store, send, receive, and purchase BTC.

How do I create a Bitcoin ordinal wallet?

You can create a Bitcoin Ordinals wallet by downloading one from a wallet provider like Xverse. Next, follow the prompts to set up the wallet, ensuring you back up your passphrase (private key) by writing it down on paper and storing it in a safe place. Once done, you can start sending and receiving Bitcoin Ordinals. Additionally, you can connect the wallet to a marketplace to buy, sell, or inscribe Ordinals. 

How do I fund my Ordinals Wallet?

You can fund your Xverse Ordinals wallet through the “Buy” button on the app or Chrome extension. This feature will allow you to buy BTC with fiat money through integrated third-party service providers. Once you have purchased BTC, you can connect your wallet to an Ordinals marketplace to acquire an inscription. The Bitcoin in your wallet will pay the listed price and fees for the purchase. 

How do I buy Bitcoin Ordinals?

You can purchase Bitcoin Ordinals by funding your Xverse wallet with BTC. Once you have done so, connect the Xverse wallet to a marketplace and begin exploring the listed collections. When you find the inscription of your choice, hit the “Buy” button and follow the prompts to complete the transaction. The marketplace will then transfer the inscription to your wallet once the blockchain confirms the transaction.

How do I sell Ordinals?

You can sell Ordinals by connecting your wallet to a marketplace of your choice. Then, choose the Ordinals inscription you want to sell and create a listing price. The marketplace will then display your digital artifact on its website, allowing potential buyers to view it, make an offer, or purchase at the listed price. If a user buys your digital artifact, you will receive payment in BTC. The inscription will also be transferred to the buyer’s wallet.

How much does it cost to mint an Ordinal?

The cost of minting or inscribing an Ordinal will depend on the current Bitcoin network activity. If the network is experiencing a lot of traffic, transaction fees will be high, and vice versa. Platforms also charge a service fee, enabling you to inscribe an Ordinal in a few easy steps. Fortunately, inscribing platforms usually list all the fees during the process, allowing you to know in advance how much the transaction will cost.

How do I invest in BTC Ordinals?

You can invest in BTC ordinals by purchasing them on an Ordinals marketplace. Simply fund your Xverse wallet with BTC and connect it to an Ordinals marketplace. Next, explore the various Ordinals collections listed and purchase your preferred inscription. Once the transaction is confirmed on the blockchain, open your wallet and tap the diamond icon at the bottom of the wallet to view your new inscription.