Rare Sats: Exploring the Collectible Side of Bitcoin
Jul 16, 2025
As Bitcoin matures into a global digital asset, a new trend is emerging among collectors, investors, and digital archaeologists: collecting individual satoshis—the smallest unit of Bitcoin—that carry special historical or structural significance.
Welcome to the world of rare sats, where every satoshi might tell a story, mark a milestone, or represent a moment in Bitcoin’s history.
What Are Rare Sats?
Rare sats aren’t different from other sats in how they function—but they’re exceptional in when and how they were created. Their rarity is defined using the Rodarmor Rarity Index, a framework proposed by Casey Rodarmor, creator of the Ordinals protocol. This index classifies sats based on mining patterns and critical moments in the Bitcoin protocol’s life cycle.
Rodarmor Rarity Index: Categories of Rare Sats
Common Sats
Make up 99% of all satoshis.
Any sat that isn’t first in its block.
Universally found in all regular BTC transactions.
Uncommon Sats
First sat of each newly mined block (~every 10 minutes).
Signify the beginning of a new block of transactions.
Rare Sats
First sats mined after a difficulty adjustment (every 2016 blocks).
Represent the network’s self-regulating nature.
Epic Sats
First sats in the block immediately after a halving event (~every 4 years).
Only 32 will ever exist.
Mark key shifts in Bitcoin’s monetary policy.
Legendary Sats
Mined after the convergence of a halving and a difficulty adjustment, which occurs every 24 years.
The first legendary sat is expected in 2032.
Symbolize new eras in the Bitcoin lifecycle.
Mythic Sat
The first satoshi ever mined in the Genesis Block (2009).
Created by Satoshi Nakamoto.
These rare sats function like digital artifacts—scarce, traceable, and tightly woven into the Bitcoin narrative.
What Are Exotic Sats?
In contrast to rare sats, exotic sats are valued not by protocol logic, but by community-driven social consensus. They represent events, people, or early historical moments deemed culturally important by Bitcoiners and Ordinals collectors.
Notable Types of Exotic Sats
Nakamoto Sats
Mined by Satoshi Nakamoto.
Associated with blocks believed to be untouched since the early days.
Pizza Sats
From the 10,000 BTC used on May 22, 2010, to buy two pizzas.
Commemorates the first commercial use of Bitcoin.
Block 9 Sats
From the first block where BTC was ever spent.
Among the earliest circulating sats.
Block 78 Sats
From the first block mined by Hal Finney, the first BTC transaction recipient.
Vintage Sats
From the first 1,000 blocks in Bitcoin’s early experimental phase.
Seen as historical artifacts of the network’s infancy.
Black Sats
Include “black uncommon” (last sat in a block) and “black rare” (last sat in a difficulty period).
Valued for their hidden and symmetrical significance.
Exotic sats derive value from storytelling, provenance, and historical connection rather than technical criteria alone. They exist outside the Rodarmor rarity framework but are heavily prized within the Ordinals and NFT-like collector ecosystem.
Where to Buy Rare Sats and Rare Sat Ordinals
Acquiring rare or exotic sats involves more than simply holding BTC. Here are several ways to begin your sat hunt:
Ordinals Marketplaces
Platforms like Magic Eden and Gamma.io allow users to trade specific satoshis.
You can buy “inscribed sats” (those paired with metadata or NFTs) or raw rare sats.
OTC Desks & Collectors
Niche over-the-counter platforms facilitate the trading of curated rare sat bundles.
Satoshi Explorers
Use tools like ord.io or Hiro Ordinals Explorer to find rare sats by their ordinal number.
Conclusion: The Bitcoin Collector’s Frontier
Rare sats and exotic sats offer a fascinating new frontier in the world of Bitcoin—where finance meets folklore, and code meets culture. Whether you’re an investor, historian, or crypto enthusiast, collecting sats opens a new way to experience and preserve Bitcoin’s legacy, one satoshi at a time.
Liquidium enables borrowing and lending for Ordinals that are inscribed on rare sats, including notable collections like OMB (Ordinal Maxi Biz) and others.
Connect your wallet, select your Ordinals, and tap into instant liquidity.
FAQ
Are rare sats functionally different from normal Bitcoin?
No. They are technically identical—but collectors assign value based on their rarity and history.
How can I tell if I own rare or exotic sats?
Use tools like ord.io or connect your wallet to Xverse to scan for rare traits and manage your sat portfolio.
Can I accidentally spend rare sats?
Yes. Without proper wallet tools, you might send rare sats as regular BTC. Wallets like Xverse display rare sats during signing to prevent this.
Are rare sats a good investment?
They’re speculative and driven by narrative value—like art or vintage collectibles. Some collectors see long-term potential; others just enjoy the thrill of the hunt.