Recursive inscriptions: A new breakthrough of the Bitcoin protocol Ordinals

Recently, the Bitcoin protocol Ordinals has received an important update. The new chief maintainer Raph has integrated the "recursive inscription" concept proposed by the founder into the Ordinals codebase. This innovation brings new possibilities to the Bitcoin ecosystem.

Recursive inscriptions are a self-referential way of inscribing on the blockchain. Unlike traditional independent inscriptions, recursive inscriptions allow the use of special syntax "/-/content/:inscription ID" to invoke the content of other inscriptions. This seemingly simple change opens up limitless imaginative possibilities for creators.

For example, in an NFT series containing 10,000 JPEG files, traditional methods require each file to be inscribed individually, which incurs huge transaction fees. With recursive inscription, creators only need to inscribe about 200 base features and then combine these features through new syntax to generate all 10,000 inscriptions. Each inscription requires only a small amount of code to call the features and present the complete image, significantly reducing costs while breaking through the size limitations of inscribed images.

For those familiar with NFTs, this concept is not new. Typically, a series of 10,000 NFTs is composed of dozens of base components. For example, a character PFP series may include elements such as backgrounds, hats, hairstyles, eyes, accessories, clothes, pants, and shoes. Recursive inscriptions change the traditional "assemble first and upload later" method, allowing for the upload of base components only, and then creating a complete series through syntax calls and combinations.

This method not only significantly reduces costs but also provides more possibilities for creation. The uploaded components will form a public material library that all creators can freely access, inspiring more creativity and imagination.

The application prospects of recursive inscriptions are broad:

1. Composable NFT/inscription series: Similar to AIMoonbird's secondary creation of Moonbird, recursive inscriptions will greatly enhance the composability of artistic creations, bringing new opportunities to fields such as artworks, digital assets, and on-chain games.

2. Decentralized Websites: With the addition of "JS" and "CSS" inscription types, there may be permanent dynamic websites existing on decentralized networks in the future.

3. NFT Fragmentation: The combinability of recursive inscriptions also means that inscriptions can be disassembled, providing possibilities for more innovative operations.

4. Domain System Innovation: The improved composability of inscriptions may allow domain names to not only point to a single address but also to host more content, such as web pages or specific NFTs.

Although the concept of recursive inscriptions was proposed only three days ago, it has already attracted widespread attention and discussion in the crypto community. Whether it can trigger the next wave of excitement in the Bitcoin ecosystem remains to be seen. However, the emergence of new things often breeds opportunities.

It is crucial to maintain a keen sense of smell and an exploratory spirit towards new technologies. Moderate research and participation in emerging technologies may yield unexpected gains. With the development of recursive inscriptions, we look forward to seeing more innovative applications and breakthrough advancements.