Ordinals are one of the most exciting developments we have seen in crypto recently, as they make it possible to launch NFTs and fungible tokens on the Bitcoin blockchain. However, not all Bitcoin wallets provide direct support for Ordinals, and it can be a bit confusing to get started.
In this article, we will highlight the best wallets you can use to invest in and trade Bitcoin Ordinals.
Key highlights:
- Bitcoin Ordinals is a protocol launched in January 2023 that makes it possible to create NFTs and fungible tokens on the Bitcoin blockchain.
- To simplify the process of storing and transacting with Ordinals, we suggest you use a Bitcoin wallet that has dedicated features for Ordinals.
- Thanks to the popularity of Ordinals, a growing number of crypto wallets is implementing support for the protocol.
- We provide a list of the 5 best Bitcoin Ordinals wallets.
Before we take a closer look at each contender that made our list of the best Ordinals wallets, let’s first refresh our knowledge about what Ordinals actually are.
About Ordinals
Bitcoin Ordinals are inscriptions of text, images, audio, and other data types on a satoshi (“sat”), the smallest denomination of Bitcoin. Technically, the ability to inscribe satoshis became possible on November 14, 2021, with the activation of the Taproot upgrade for Bitcoin.
However, it wasn’t until January 2023 that Casey Rodarmor, a programmer and artist, introduced the Bitcoin Ordinals protocol, enabling a broader community to inscribe information onto the Bitcoin blockchain.
Because these inscriptions store text, images, and other information directly on the blockchain, Bitcoin Ordinals are often regarded as Bitcoin NFTs.
While there are notable differences between “regular” NFTs—such as non-fungible tokens like ERC-721 on Ethereum—and Bitcoin NFTs, both serve the function of using the blockchain’s immutability to prove ownership of digital assets.
The best Ordinals wallets in 2024
Now, let’s take a closer look at each wallet that made our shortlist of the top Ordinals wallets in 2024.
1. Ordinals Wallet
Ordinals Wallet is a non-custodian Bitcoin wallet that makes it easy for users to store both BTC and Ordinals. You can use Ordinals Wallet directly from your web browser, which provides a highly convenient experience for transacting with Ordinals.
In the Ordinals Wallet, you can easily see your Ordinals NFT collections, your SNS (Sats Name System) names, Bitcoin Runes and BRC-20 tokens, as well as offers from other users to purchase your Ordinals NFTs.
The Ordinals Wallet platform also makes it easy to discover NFTs and tokens issued using the Ordinals protocol, and also features a launchpad where projects can offer their Ordinals-based assets to a large audience.
According to the Ordinals Wallet team, the wallet has handled more than $82 million in transaction volume, and more than 875,000 Ordinals have been inscribed to the Bitcoin blockchain using the platform.
Get Ordinals Wallet
2. Magic Eden Wallet
Magic Eden is an NFT marketplace that initially launched on Solana and quickly established itself as the most popular NFT marketplace on the platform. However, Magic Eden has since expanded to other blockchain platforms as well and now also supports Ordinals in addition to traditional NFTs.
The Magic Eden Wallet app, which is specifically designed for NFT collectors and traders, has built-in support for Ordinals. The wallet is very well-designed and provides all of the features one would expect from a leading crypto wallet in 2024.
In terms of security, Magic Eden Wallet implements a non-custodial design, which means that users always retain control over their private keys. The wallet was audited by Halborn and also provides built-in Ledger support, so it can be easily used in conjunction with a hardware wallet for added protection.
To top it all off, Magic Eden is regularly partnering with NFT projects to provide perks which are accessible exclusively to Magic Eden Wallet users. From time to time, you might be eligible for free NFTs!
Get Magic Eden Wallet
3. Xverse
Xverse is a non-custodial Bitcoin wallet that offers support for Ordinals. Xverse is available as a mobile application on iOS and Android, as well as a Chrome web browser extension.
For users that want the highest level of security for their BTC and Ordinals, Xverse provides a built-in integration with Ledger hardware wallets. The wallet is also open source and receives regular audits by Least Authority.
One of the more interesting features of Xverse is that it has a built-in decentralized exchange where users can swap between different Runes directly from their wallet.
In addition to its support for Ordinals and Runes, Xverse also offers strong support for Stacks, a network that enables general-purpose smart contracts secured by the Bitcoin network. This makes Xverse a great option if you’re looking to use decentralized applications on Bitcoin or “stack” your STX coins to earn rewards.
Get Xverse Wallet
4. Leather
Leather is a fully-featured Bitcoin wallet that gives users easy access to practically all the products and services that are being built on top of the Bitcoin blockchain. The Leather wallet is currently available as a web browser extension or as a desktop app. The web browser extension version has the most extensive suite of features, so you should pick it if you want to access everything that Leather has to offer.
The Leather wallet can be used with both the Bitcoin and Stacks networks, and of course also supports Ordinals, Runes and many other protocols that enhance Bitcoin.
The Leather wallet provides support for Ledger devices, which means you can use it with your hardware wallet for additional security.
If you are looking for a Bitcoin Ordinals wallet that also supports a wealth of other Bitcoin-related protocols, it’s hard to go wrong with Leather. The functionality of the Leather wallet is set to expand even further, as developers are currently working on a mobile app version and are also integrating support for the Lightning Network.
Get Leather Bitcoin Wallet
5. Phantom
Phantom is a very popular cryptocurrency wallet that initially started on Solana but has since expanded to other blockchains as well. Notably, Phantom now also supports Bitcoin, Ordinals and BRC-20 tokens.
Phantom provides a slick user interface, strong support for NFTs, as well as built-in token swapping and staking features. The Phantom wallet is non-custodial and can be used in tandem with hardware wallets, which also makes it suitable for long-term crypto storage.
The Phantom wallet has a feature that detects when the user is about to approve a transaction that’s identified as potentially malicious. For example, the user might be connecting to a phishing website that’s designed to trick users into approving a transaction that drains their wallet.
If you’re on the hunt for a multi-chain cryptocurrency wallet that also supports Ordinals, Phantom is arguably the best choice on the market today.
Get Phantom Wallet
The bottom line
Although the Bitcoin Ordinals ecosystem can seem a bit confusing at first, everything will become much clearer once you set up an Ordinals Wallet and start experimenting with buying and selling your first Ordinals.
Most of the wallets we have featured in this article can be used in conjunction with a hardware wallet for added security. If you want to improve the security of your crypto holdings, we recommend you check out our list of the best crypto hardware wallets.
Source: https://coincodex.com/article/48882/best-ordinals-wallet/