The introduction of Ordinals has created a new market for non-fungible tokens (NFTs) on Bitcoin.
In this guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know to get started with Ordinals on Magic Eden, including what Ordinals are, how to set up an Ordinals wallet and how to buy your first Ordinal inscription.
Ordinals are native Bitcoin NFTs. Anyone can create an Ordinal by attaching data onto an individual satoshi (the smallest unit of Bitcoin). The act of putting data onto Satoshis is called inscribing. As such, Ordinals are often called Inscriptions or Digital Artifacts.
As defined in the Ordinal Theory Handbook,
Casey Rodarmor published the Ordinal Theory Handbook on January 20th, 2023. The handbook defines first, how to identify individual satoshis, and second how to attach data to one.
The Ordinal Protocol assigns an ordinal number to each satoshi based on it's mint time. The unique identifier gives satoshis a non-fungible property. Holders can now identify and select which satoshis they want to use.
The Ordinal Theory Handbook presents the following notations for the classification system:
The classification system makes some satoshis more rare than others based on their proximity to key Bitcoin events.
Today, rare Satoshis are sought out by collectors around the world.
In addition to the classification system, the Ordinal Protocol laid out how to inscribe satoshis with data.
Inscribing is the process of attaching data to a satoshi. To write the data, users send a transaction to a taproot compatible address. They save the data in the witness section of the transaction. Any data can be chosen, including images, text, or video.
“Ordinals mark the beginning of a digital renaissance on Bitcoin. With Magic Eden, creators and collectors can for the first time participate in cultural expression directly on Bitcoin,” says Jack Lu, Co-founder of Magic Eden.
The Magic Eden App is the market-leading Ordinals wallet. Magic Eden Wallet is the premier Ordinal wallet. It carries a number of Bitcoin features, including
Magic Eden also supports other popular Bitcoin wallets such as Xverse, Leather Wallet and Unisat.
We recommend having only one Bitcoin wallet extension to avoid potential conflicts or unexpected issues.
When using wallets for Ordinals on Magic Eden, you will have two Bitcoin addresses:
Note: Bitcoin transactions take longer than other networks to confirm. To avoid delays, we recommend funding your wallet well in advance, before you intend to mint or trade.
Here are the steps to fund your wallet:
Please be patient during the transaction as Bitcoin transactions can be slow. Once the transaction is successful, your wallet will be funded and ready for action. To track your transaction status, use your transaction hash and blockchain explorer.
We wrote an entire guide on buying and selling Ordinals here. You can buy Ordinals on dedicated Ordinals marketplaces, as well as a specialized NFT marketplace like Magic Eden.
Ordinals are some of the most popular Bitcoin tokens in 2025. In the last 30 days, the top five Ordinal collections are:
Since the last snapshot, Taproot Wizards and Adderrels have broken into the top 5 Ordinals (by volume). However, the top projects have shown incredible resiliency, maintaining top positions across the entire Ordinal ecosystem.
From the last snapshot, Bitcoin Frogs have broken into the top 5 Ordinals (by volume). However the top projects have shown incredible resiliancy, maintaining top positions across the entire Ordinal ecosystem.
Note: This section was last updated on Aug 11, 2026. For the most complete and accurate listings of Ordinal collections, see Magic Eden't Ordinals Marketplace.
Our Ordinals Inscription Tool allows anyone to create Ordinals.
The Inscription Tool allows you to upload whatever data you would like to attach, including files and text data.
Welcome to the Launchpad, an experience that may differ from what you've encountered on other chains. If this is your first time transacting on Ordinals with your wallet, you'll need to prepare your wallet first by confirming a popup prompt.
Follow these steps to mint Digital Artifacts:
Now it’s time to explore what the Bitcoin NFT ecosystem has to offer.
With Magic Eden’s Ordinals Marketplace, you can browse top collections, filter by floor price, volume, rarity and more, and discover the latest inscriptions. Magic Eden makes it easy to mint, trade and collect Ordinals with confidence.
Enter Magic Eden today and explore the future of NFTs on Bitcoin with Ordinals.
There are several good options available, but the Magic Eden App is arguably the best wallet for Ordinals. It offers native support for inscriptions, which makes it easy to mint, send, receive, and store your Bitcoin NFTs in one place. Additionally, it connects easily to the Magic Eden marketplace, providing a smooth experience for creators, collectors and traders.
Ordinals have to be stored in a Taproot-compatible Bitcoin wallet that supports inscription tracking and visualization. Magic Eden’s wallet is created specifically for this use case as it provides a separate Ordinals address to avoid mixing Ordinals with your standard bitcoin transactions. This way, you’re protected against accidental transfers or loss.
To safely transfer an Ordinal using Magic Eden, log in to your account and visit the ‘My Items’ section. Select the ordinals you wish to transfer to another wallet and click on the ‘Transfer’ button. Enter the recipient wallet address and confirm by clicking on the ‘Transfer Items’ button. Confirm the transfer in your wallet.
Creating or ‘inscribing’ a Bitcoin Ordinal involves embedding data such as an image or text directly onto a satoshi. Magic Eden offers a free Inscription Tool that greatly simplifies this process. All you need is a compatible wallet, a small amount of BTC for fees and the file you wish to inscribe. The tool will guide you through uploading your content and broadcasting the inscription on the Bitcoin network.
The Ordinals protocol was invented and launched in January 2023 by software developer Casey Rodarmor, who created the Ordinal Theory upon which the protocol is based. His mission was to bring unique digital assets to the Bitcoin blockchain.
The information provided on this website is provided for general educational purposes only and is in no way financial or investment advice. Certain information may have also been provided to us or prepared by third parties; these materials are provided for convenience and are not an endorsement by Magic Eden. Magic Eden is not liable for any errors, changes or amendments to such information, including any actions taken in reliance on such information.
