The concept of Bitcoin inscriptions has recently taken the crypto world by storm, with related tokens surging dozens or even hundreds of times in value within just a few days. This frenzy isn't limited to the Bitcoin ecosystem; other public blockchains have also started to see inscription tokens emerge, creating a wave of interest across the market.
Which major Bitcoin inscription tokens are worth watching? Additionally, since most inscription tokens currently lack practical utility and are considered meme coins, how should investors approach these relatively high-risk assets?
Don’t worry—industry experts have shared a seven-step strategy for investing in inscription tokens. Let’s dive in.
Major Bitcoin Inscription Tokens to Watch
ORDI
The Ordinals protocol is a system that numbers satoshis (the smallest unit of Bitcoin, where 1 BTC = 100 million satoshis) based on the order in which they are mined. This numbering allows individual satoshis to be tracked through transactions, making each one unique rather than fungible. Satoshis are transferred on a first-in, first-out basis from transaction inputs to outputs. The numbering and transfer schemes both rely on order, making the protocol aptly named "Ordinals." The total supply of ORDI is 21 million.
SATS
SATS has a total supply of 21 trillion tokens. Minting began on March 9, 2023, and was completed on September 24, taking six months in total. There were 21,107,258 minting transactions, and the token is held by 36,061 addresses. SATS shares its name with Bitcoin’s smallest unit and will serve as the gas and trading pair for Unisat’s L2 BRC-20 swap.
UniSat Wallet has indicated that the brc20-swap will charge a 0.3% service fee on all transactions. Approximately one-sixth (0.05%) of this fee will go to UniSat, while the remaining five-sixths (0.25%) will be distributed to liquidity providers. This fee structure is similar to the one used by Uniswap.
RATS
RATS has a total supply of 1 trillion tokens and is considered a leading meme token in the "animal theme" category. It consists of 1 million inscriptions, each containing 1,000,000 tokens. Due to recent inflows into this sector, on-chain trading volume for RATS has surged significantly, making it the second most traded token in the BRC-20 ecosystem.
PIPE
The PIPE protocol is a UTXO-based token protocol on Bitcoin, and its first token is PIPE. The founder of Ordinals, Casey Rodarmor, created the Runes protocol to address dust attacks in BRC-20. PIPE is the first token issued under the Runes protocol. It inherits Bitcoin’s UTXO anti-double-spend features, solves congestion caused by repeated inscriptions, improves efficiency, and reduces transaction costs. PIPE is not a BRC-20 token and is currently only available in over-the-counter (OTC) markets. The total supply of PIPE is 21 million tokens.
ATOM
ATOM is the first token on the Atomicals protocol and was fully mined within about five hours. Mining ATOM requires using a computer’s CPU and setting up a local environment, making it more technically challenging than mining BRC-20 tokens. This also makes the process more equitable. Technically, Atomicals Protocol differs from Ordinals in several key ways: Atomicals uses Bitcoin’s UTXO model for minting and propagation, with 1 token = 1 satoshi, aligning it more closely with Bitcoin’s architecture. While Ordinals does not have a native token standard, Atomicals introduced the ARC-20 standard from the outset, along with support for additional use cases.
Other BRC-20 Tokens
Other notable Bitcoin inscription tokens with significant market caps include RDEX and BTCs. RDEX is a meme token using the BRC-20 standard, with a total supply of 100 million and 100% circulation. BTCs was created as a counterpart to the Ethereum inscription ETHs, with a total of 21,000 inscriptions, each containing 1,000 tokens, resulting in a total supply of 21 million BTCs.
How to Invest in Inscription Tokens
Inscription assets currently resemble meme coin speculation, and past strategies can offer valuable insights. For example, tracking community engagement and measuring market sentiment can help predict price movements. Google Trends is a common tool for gauging interest in a particular topic, while Twitter sentiment indicators can provide insight into market participant mood, sometimes serving as a leading indicator. Additionally, the number of holders and Twitter followers for a meme project are important metrics to consider.
Investors can also improve their odds by recognizing certain characteristics of promising meme tokens. Meme tokens generally have a small market cap, as larger caps make it harder to achieve rapid price increases (e.g., DOGE, SHIB, and PEOPLE all started with relatively small market caps). They should also have a compelling narrative or consensus value—for instance, ORDI’s status as the first inscription asset gives it inherent narrative value. Exchange support and listings are also critical, as exchanges play a major role in promoting meme tokens, as seen recently with RATS.
What do crypto influencers think about the inscription token trend? In addition to the patterns mentioned above, we’ve compiled some perspectives from industry experts for reference.
How should you choose which inscription tokens to invest in? @Chris_Defi shared the following tips:
- Holder count: SATS currently has over 40,000 holders, followed by BITMAP with 25,000. For newly minted projects, a holder count above 4,000 is considered relatively safe.
- Trading volume: New projects with an average daily trading volume greater than 25 BTC are worth noting.
- High slippage and poor user experience: In a market with high情绪 and FOMO, sometimes it’s best to dive in despite these issues.
- Embrace the lack of utility: BRC-20 tokens are purely speculative, and this lack of inherent value can actually make them more attractive during a bull market compared to projects with roadmaps and institutional backing.
- Consider unconventional factors: Sometimes, cultural or symbolic factors (like animal themes or catchy names) can contribute to a token’s success as much as technical fundamentals.
- Good project vs. good price: A good project doesn’t always mean a good entry price, and a good price can often lead to a profitable outcome.
- Don’t overlook Bitcoin NFTs: These digital artifacts could eventually surpass even the most popular Ethereum-based NFTs.
How should you approach FOMO (fear of missing out)? William Chen (@William11Chan) offered this advice: “During the initial BRC-20 hype, I minted numerous tokens only to see most of them go to zero. If I had simply bought ORDI at the peak of my FOMO, I might not have profited, but at least I wouldn’t have lost everything. This pattern repeats across cycles—whether it was meme coins, NFTs, or DeFi tokens. For most people, if you feel FOMO about a new trend, buying the leading project that sparked your interest is often the best approach.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Bitcoin inscription tokens?
Bitcoin inscription tokens are digital assets created by inscribing data onto individual satoshis on the Bitcoin blockchain. They use protocols like Ordinals or Atomicals to create non-fungible or semi-fungible tokens, often with a strong meme culture component.
How do I buy Bitcoin inscription tokens?
You can acquire them through specialized marketplaces that support BRC-20 or ARC-20 standards, or via over-the-counter (OTC) trades. Always use a compatible wallet like UniSat or Sparrow Wallet for storage and transactions. Explore more strategies for safe acquisition.
What is the difference between BRC-20 and Ethereum’s ERC-20?
BRC-20 is a token standard on Bitcoin that relies on the Ordinals protocol for inscription and tracking, while ERC-20 is a smart contract-based standard on Ethereum. BRC-20 tokens are generally simpler but can contribute to Bitcoin network congestion.
Are inscription tokens a good long-term investment?
Most inscription tokens are highly speculative and lack fundamental utility, making them risky for long-term holds. They are primarily driven by market sentiment and cultural trends, so investors should approach them with caution.
What are the risks of investing in meme-based inscription tokens?
Key risks include extreme volatility, potential for scams or rug pulls, low liquidity, and the possibility of rapid value depreciation. Since many projects have no underlying product or service, they are vulnerable to market hype cycles.
Can I create my own inscription token?
Yes, protocols like Ordinals and Atomicals allow users to inscribe data onto satoshis, but the process requires technical knowledge. You’ll need to run a Bitcoin node, understand wallet compatibility, and cover network fees, which can be high during periods of demand.
Conclusion
Based on previous meme coin cycles, a few inscription tokens with strong community consensus may emerge as winners, potentially generating significant returns for early investors. However, the inscription token market is still in its early stages and carries substantial risk. The ease of minting new tokens— requiring little more than writing data to the blockchain—means a flood of low-value assets could enter the market. For now, these tokens are primarily speculative instruments, riskier than most altcoins. Investors should remain cautious, conduct thorough research, and never invest more than they can afford to lose.
Disclaimer: This article is not investment advice. Readers should assess whether the opinions, views, or conclusions presented align with their specific situation and comply with local laws and regulations.