In the rapidly evolving world of blockchain and digital ownership, inscriptions have emerged as a groundbreaking innovation—transforming how we perceive value, identity, and creativity on decentralized networks. At the heart of this movement is OKX Inscriptions, the largest multichain ecosystem supporting a wide range of inscription standards across Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and more than 20 other blockchain networks.
Whether you're new to inscriptions or looking to deepen your understanding of their technical and practical applications, this guide explores everything from foundational concepts to advanced ecosystem capabilities—all while optimizing for clarity, engagement, and search relevance.
What Are Inscriptions?
Inscriptions are digital artifacts that embed various forms of data—such as text, images, videos, or even smart contracts—directly onto the smallest units of a blockchain’s native currency. On Bitcoin, for example, inscriptions are stored on individual sats (satoshis), the network’s base unit, making each one uniquely identifiable and potentially valuable.
This concept was pioneered by the Ordinals protocol, introduced in December 2022 by developer Casey Rodarmor. By assigning a unique serial number to every satoshi, Ordinals enables users to "inscribe" data directly onto specific sats during transactions. This breakthrough effectively turns otherwise identical coins into one-of-a-kind digital collectibles—similar in nature to NFTs.
👉 Discover how inscriptions are reshaping digital ownership across blockchains.
Since then, the idea has expanded beyond Bitcoin. Inspired by Ordinals, developers have created compatible inscription standards across multiple chains:
- Ethscriptions on Ethereum
- SPL-20 on Solana
- SRC-20 on Stamps (Bitcoin)
- APT-20 on Aptos
These adaptations highlight inscriptions not just as a Bitcoin phenomenon, but as a universal language of digital provenance, enabling cross-chain innovation and interoperability.
Creating Inscriptions Across Blockchains
OKX Inscriptions supports creators across a diverse set of networks, empowering artists, developers, and communities to mint and distribute their work with ease.
Currently Supported Networks:
- Bitcoin (BRC-20 & NFT Collections)
- Ethereum (ETHS)
- Polygon
- Solana (SPL-20)
- Aptos (APT-20)
- And over 20 additional blockchains
With support spanning major Layer 1 and Layer 2 ecosystems, OKX provides a unified platform for launching inscriptions regardless of your preferred chain. Whether you're building meme tokens, digital art collections, or utility-based assets, the infrastructure is in place to bring your vision to life.
Managing Your Inscribed Assets
Beyond creation, effective asset management is crucial for collectors and investors alike. OKX offers comprehensive tools for organizing and tracking inscribed assets across different protocols.
Available Now:
- Ordinals (BRC-20 tokens and NFTs)
- Stamps (SRC-20) – Known as "Bitcoin stamps," these use the Counterparty protocol to permanently store Base64-encoded image data on-chain.
- Ethscriptions (ETHS) – Ethereum-based inscriptions that leverage transaction calldata for decentralized storage.
Coming Soon:
- Atomicals (ARC-20)
- Doginals (DRC-20)
- Runes (Rune Alpha)
Each standard brings unique advantages in terms of scalability, security, and usability—making OKX a future-ready hub for all things inscriptions.
Trading Inscribed Tokens with Confidence
A thriving ecosystem needs liquidity. OKX enables seamless trading of inscribed tokens across multiple standards.
Supported Trading Pairs:
- BRC-20 on Bitcoin
- SPL-20 on Solana
- APT-20 on Aptos
- ETHS on Ethereum
Upcoming Support:
- ARC-20 (Atomicals)
- DRC-20 (Doginals)
- Runes
This multi-standard trading capability positions OKX at the forefront of the inscriptions economy—offering users access to both established and emerging markets within a single interface.
Core Protocols Powering the Inscription Revolution
Understanding the underlying technologies helps clarify why inscriptions are gaining momentum so quickly.
Ordinals Protocol
Launched in December 2022 by Casey Rodarmor, Ordinals introduced the concept of numbering individual satoshis. By attaching metadata—like images or text—to specific sats via transaction outputs, Ordinals enabled true digital scarcity on Bitcoin. This paved the way for NFT-like experiences without requiring sidechains or new consensus rules.
BRC-20: Tokenization on Bitcoin
Introduced in March 2023 by an anonymous developer known as domodata, BRC-20 applies a JSON-based structure to Ordinals inscriptions, allowing for fungible token issuance directly on Bitcoin. Similar in function to Ethereum’s ERC-20 standard, BRC-20 supports token deployment, minting, and transfers—all secured by Bitcoin’s robust network.
However, due to concerns about blockchain bloat and inefficient data storage, Casey Rodarmor later developed Runes as a cleaner alternative.
Runes Protocol
Announced in September 2023, Runes is a UTXO-based fungible token protocol designed specifically for Bitcoin. Unlike BRC-20, which stores data in witness fields and can clutter the blockchain, Runes leverages Bitcoin’s native transaction model for efficient token operations. Its UTXO foundation also makes it highly compatible with layer-two solutions like RGB and the Lightning Network—opening doors for scalable microtransactions.
👉 See how Runes could redefine token efficiency on Bitcoin.
Atomicals (ARC-20)
Launched on September 17, 2023, by another anonymous developer, Atomicals aims to solve key limitations of Ordinals by rethinking asset issuance from the ground up. As the first proof-of-work (PoW)-driven inscription protocol for fungible tokens on Bitcoin, ARC-20 emphasizes decentralization, immutability, and fair distribution—making it ideal for permissionless innovation.
Doginals (DRC-20)
Built on Dogecoin’s blockchain, DRC-20 represents a major evolution for the meme coin community. By introducing a standardized way to create interchangeable tokens similar to BRC-20—but tailored for Dogecoin—Doginals enables new use cases in gaming, rewards systems, and decentralized communities.
Stamps (SRC-20)
Developed by Mike In Space, Stamps builds upon the long-standing Counterparty protocol (dating back to 2014). It allows Base64-encoded images to be permanently embedded into Bitcoin transaction outputs. Because full nodes must store this data indefinitely, Stamps offer true permanence—a critical feature for archiving digital art and historical records.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Are inscriptions the same as NFTs?
A: While similar in concept—both represent unique digital assets—inscriptions differ by storing data directly on-chain (e.g., on sats), whereas many NFTs rely on off-chain storage (like IPFS). This makes inscriptions more durable and censorship-resistant.
Q: Can I create an inscription without coding experience?
A: Yes! Platforms like OKX provide user-friendly interfaces that allow anyone to mint inscriptions across supported chains—even without technical expertise.
Q: Why is Runes considered better than BRC-20?
A: Runes uses Bitcoin’s UTXO model efficiently, reducing blockchain bloat and improving compatibility with scaling solutions like Lightning. It’s designed to be lightweight and sustainable long-term.
Q: Is there a risk of spam or low-quality content in inscriptions?
A: Yes—like any open system, inscriptions can include irrelevant or low-effort content. However, market demand naturally filters value, and tools like curated marketplaces help users discover quality projects.
Q: How does OKX support multiple inscription standards?
A: OKX integrates directly with each protocol’s specifications, offering unified creation, management, and trading tools across BRC-20, ETHS, SPL-20, ARC-20, DRC-20, Runes, and more.
Q: Will older inscription standards become obsolete?
A: Not necessarily. While newer protocols like Runes aim to improve efficiency, earlier standards like BRC-20 have strong community adoption and historical significance—ensuring ongoing relevance.
The Future of Digital Ownership Starts Here
As blockchain technology matures, the line between data and value continues to blur. Inscriptions represent a pivotal shift—where every byte of information can carry meaning, ownership, and economic potential.
OKX Inscriptions stands at the forefront of this transformation, offering the most comprehensive multichain platform for creators, traders, and collectors worldwide. From Bitcoin’s immutable ledger to Ethereum’s expressive smart contracts, the ecosystem thrives on diversity, innovation, and accessibility.
👉 Start exploring multichain inscriptions today—where creativity meets blockchain.
Whether you're launching your first BRC-20 token or trading rare Doginals, OKX provides the tools, security, and scalability needed to succeed in the next era of digital assets.
Core Keywords:
inscriptions, BRC-20, Ordinals, Runes, ARC-20, DRC-20, multichain, digital ownership