The Vibe: Bitcoin’s version of fungible tokens—meme coins and utilities built right on Bitcoin using inscriptions, no smart contracts needed.
The Details: BRC-20 is an experimental fungible token standard on Bitcoin, launched in 2023 and inspired by ERC-20. It uses the Ordinals protocol to inscribe JSON data (deploy, mint, transfer commands) onto individual satoshis. Tokens are tracked by off-chain indexers rather than on-chain smart contracts, making them native to Bitcoin’s security but less programmable. Popular for early meme coins like ORDI, SATS, and others; still traded actively in 2026 on Ordinals marketplaces (Magic Eden, OKX Ordinals). Simpler than ERC-20 but can cause network congestion during hype.
Pro Tip: Use Ordinals-compatible wallets (Xverse, UniSat) to hold or trade BRC-20—check indexer reliability (e.g., unisat.io) since tokens depend on them. Start small; BRC-20 is riskier due to reliance on inscriptions and potential indexer issues.