What is $ORDI?

$ORDI is the very first BRC-20 token created on the Bitcoin blockchain. It was introduced in early 2023 using the Ordinals protocol, which allows users to inscribe data directly onto individual satoshis—the smallest units of bitcoin. This marked a groundbreaking shift in the Bitcoin ecosystem, opening the door for NFTs, meme coins, and fungible tokens to exist on Bitcoin’s Layer 1 without smart contracts.

The token quickly gained traction as a meme coin that mirrored the early excitement seen in Ethereum’s DeFi and NFT booms. ORDI is not just a technical experiment; it has become a symbol of innovation, pushing the boundaries of what Bitcoin can be used for.

A New Chapter in Bitcoin History

 The story of ORDI begins with the launch of the Ordinals protocol in January 2023 by developer Casey Rodarmor. This protocol enables individual satoshis to carry digital artifacts like images, code, or text directly on-chain, using a method called “inscription.” 

Shortly after this innovation, the BRC-20 standard was introduced by a pseudonymous developer known as Domo. Inspired by Ethereum’s ERC-20 token standard, Domo proposed a minimalist approach to creating fungible tokens on Bitcoin using JSON inscriptions.

Domo launched the BRC-20 experiment in March 2023 by inscribing the first BRC-20 token—ORDI. This experimental token was inscribed with a maximum supply of 21 million and quickly gained attention among early Ordinals users. As the first of its kind, ORDI represented a proof-of-concept for tokenizing value on Bitcoin without needing external smart contracts.

In the weeks following ORDI's launch, crypto Twitter exploded with excitement. Communities rushed to mint and trade BRC-20 tokens, leading to an unexpected frenzy. The simplicity of the JSON-based standard and the novelty of token issuance directly on Bitcoin drew both technical curiosity and market speculation.

Listings on major centralized exchanges like Binance in Nov 2023 catapulted ORDI into the broader crypto consciousness. Its price surged, and $ORDI became a cultural phenomenon—praised by some as a revolution and criticized by others as hype-driven network spam. Regardless of one’s stance, the launch of ORDI undeniably sparked a wave of experimentation across the Bitcoin ecosystem.

How ORDI Works

Unlike Ethereum tokens, which use smart contracts to manage balances and logic, ORDI and other BRC-20 tokens are managed off-chain by indexers. These tools scan the Bitcoin blockchain for inscriptions that match the BRC-20 format and track token balances accordingly. Transfers are done through standard Bitcoin transactions, with the relevant JSON data embedded into them.

This approach has strengths and weaknesses. It leverages Bitcoin’s security and decentralization but lacks programmability and relies heavily on centralized indexers. Despite these limitations, ORDI’s simplicity has been one of its strongest selling points.

Why $ORDI Matters

ORDI holds the title of the first BRC-20 token, making it a collector’s item and a cultural icon in the emerging Bitcoin Ordinals ecosystem. It has also helped to shift perceptions of Bitcoin from being solely a store of value to becoming a broader platform for digital assets. ORDI has ignited debates, inspired imitators, and led to hundreds of new BRC-20 tokens.

It’s also at the center of controversy. Some Bitcoin purists argue that BRC-20 tokens like ORDI clog the network and increase transaction fees, deviating from Bitcoin’s original vision. Others argue that ORDI and the Ordinals protocol give Bitcoin renewed cultural relevance and developer interest, which has been missing for years.

Despite the debates, the ORDI token has proven resilient. It has maintained significant trading volume and community engagement since its inception, consistently ranking among the most traded Ordinals-based assets.

Use ORDI for Bitcoin Loans on Liquidium

If you hold $ORDI and don’t want to sell it, you can unlock liquidity by using it as collateral on Liquidium.wtf. Liquidium supports top Ordinals and BRC-20 tokens for Bitcoin-native lending.

To borrow against ORDI, you simply connect your wallet—Xverse, Unisat, or OKX—and navigate to the Borrow section. From there, you can either accept an existing loan offer or create one with your own terms, including loan duration, interest rate, and LTV ratio. Once matched with a lender, your ORDI is locked in a secure contract and you receive BTC directly in your wallet.

This process enables ORDI holders to stay long on their assets while gaining short-term liquidity—a powerful DeFi primitive now available on Bitcoin thanks to platforms like Liquidium.

$ORDI represents more than just a meme—it’s a foundational token in Bitcoin’s expanding ecosystem of digital assets. Whether you’re holding, trading, or borrowing against it, ORDI is a symbol of how far Bitcoin has come—and where it’s going next.

Start borrowing BTC against your $ORDI on Liquidium.wtf today.

FAQ: Understanding $ORDI

What is $ORDI?
ORDI is the first BRC-20 token on Bitcoin, inscribed using the Ordinals protocol.

Who created ORDI?
An anonymous developer deployed ORDI in early 2023 shortly after the launch of Ordinals.

How many ORDI tokens exist?
There is a maximum supply of 21 million ORDI tokens.

Is ORDI part of the official Ordinals team?
No. It was created independently using the open-source protocol.

Can I use ORDI to get a loan?
Yes. Platforms like Liquidium support ORDI as collateral for Bitcoin loans.