The Bitcoin protocol Ordinals introduces the recursive inscription feature, opening up new possibilities.

Recently, the new chief maintainer of the Bitcoin protocol Ordinals, Raph, merged an important update on Github, which is the "recursive inscription" feature proposed by founder Casey Rodarmor. This update introduces a brand new engraving method for the Ordinals protocol, which is expected to inject new vitality into the Bitcoin ecosystem.

Recursive inscriptions are a type of blockchain inscription technology that possesses self-referential characteristics. Unlike traditional independent inscriptions, recursive inscriptions allow for the invocation of the content of other inscriptions through a special syntax "/-/content/:inscription ID". This seemingly simple change actually opens up limitless possibilities for creators.

Taking an NFT collection as an example, traditional methods require separate inscriptions for 10,000 JPEG files, which is not only expensive but also limited by the size of the inscription images. With recursive inscription technology, creators only need to inscribe 200 base features and can create 10,000 unique inscriptions by combining these features through a new syntax. Each inscription requires only a small amount of code to call the features and present the complete image, significantly reducing transaction costs while breaking through the size limitations of images.

For those familiar with NFTs, this concept is not new. Typically, a collection of 10,000 NFTs is composed of dozens of components. For example, a character PFP (profile picture) collection may include elements such as backgrounds, hats, hairstyles, eyes, accessories, clothes, pants, and shoes. The recursive inscription technique changes the traditional method of combining components first and uploading them later; it only requires uploading these basic components, which can then be called and combined through syntax. This not only significantly saves costs but also provides more possibilities for creation.

More importantly, these uploaded components will form a public material library that everyone can freely access. This provides artists and creators with abundant resources for post-production, inspiring boundless imagination.

The application prospects of recursive inscriptions are broad and may bring the following innovations:

1. Highly composable NFT/inscription collections: Similar to AIMoonbird's derivative work on the Moonbird project, recursive inscriptions will greatly enhance the composability of artistic creations. This applies not only to artworks but may also extend to digital assets and on-chain gaming.

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

3. Fragmentation of NFTs: The composability of recursive inscriptions also means that inscriptions can be disassembled and fragmented, paving the way for more innovative operations.

4. Innovative Domain System: The enhanced composability of recursive 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 within the crypto community. Whether it can trigger the next wave of excitement in the Bitcoin ecosystem remains to be seen. However, hot topics often breed opportunities.

It is essential to maintain sharp insight and continuous curiosity in the face of new developments. Actively researching and moderately engaging with emerging technologies can often lead to unexpected rewards. In this rapidly evolving digital world, continuous learning and exploration will become the key to success.