With 13 million Ordinal inscriptions linked to the Bitcoin blockchain, enthusiasts have turned their attention to a distinct digital artifact subject known as “rare satoshis” or “satributes.” The latest trend involves collectors assigning greater worth to satoshis connected to noteworthy occurrences, such as being involved in the first bitcoin transaction or being the initial satoshi of a block. Lately, these rare satoshi artifacts have captivated the collector community.
The Quest for Rare Satoshis
As the popularity of Ordinal inscriptions surged on the Bitcoin blockchain, individuals embraced the technology to meticulously categorize satoshis, the smallest divisible unit of Bitcoin. Derived from the name of Bitcoin’s visionary creator, satoshis represent the smallest fractions of the cryptocurrency thoroughly documented on the ledger.
In a recent twist, collectors have begun attributing higher value to particular satoshis, either due to their rarity or their association with legendary milestones. Enthusiasts are now on the hunt for these luxury satoshis, eagerly inspecting their holdings in hopes of uncovering ancient treasures acquired over time.
The topic has been circulating on social media, and numerous individuals have posted Twitter threads on the subject. Others have authored comprehensive articles explaining rare satoshis and providing instructions on how individuals can verify their ownership of such sats. On May 16, the author known as Old School Crypto published an editorial that extensively discusses rare satoshis.
The article includes images illustrating the definitions of common satoshis, which encompass any satoshi that was not the first in a block. Uncommon satoshis, on the other hand, represent the first satoshi in a block, and currently, there are nearly seven million of this type.
Another collectible sat is a satoshi that represents the first satoshi of the initial block linked to a new difficulty epoch, with fewer than 3,500 of them available. An epic satoshi refers to the first satoshi in the initial block associated with block-halving events. Additionally, there is the first satoshi in the Genesis block, and other rare satoshis could be connected to significant historical events. These historical events encompass the first transaction, the pizza transaction, a satoshi mined within the first 1,000 blocks, and more.
As described in Old School Crypto’s article, the marketplace Ord.io, within the Ordinal platform, allows users to explore and filter these types of satoshis using the “satributes” filter. Ord.io’s website showcases nine distinct types of satributes, encompassing uncommon, common, rare, epic, vintage, Nakamoto, first transaction, palindrome, pizza, block 9, and block 78.
The concept of assigning numismatic value to bitcoin is not new, as individuals have linked the currency to notable events such as the Silk Road, Satoshi’s first transaction with Hal, and others. Physical bitcoins like Casascius coins have gained value beyond their original loadings. In 2011, users on bitcointalk.org engaged in discussions regarding the purchase of a single bitcoin for 1.5 BTC, which was associated with the 2010 pizza transaction.
What do you think about rare satoshis or satributes? Share your thoughts and opinions about this subject in the comments section below.
