Ordinal inscriptions have quickly consumed Bitcoin’s available block space since their debut last year, a study by blockchain analytics firm Glassnode found. These text and image files act as “packing filler,” filling any remaining space in blocks after higher-value transactions are added, the study showed. Bitcoin’s Block Space: Monetary Transfers Overpower Inscriptions Though there’s been a surge in Ordinal inscriptions in 2023, a Glassnode study found that financial transactions remain the priority on Bitcoin’s blockchain. Glassnode researchers emphasized that “there’s little evidence inscriptions are pushing out monetary transfers.” “Inscriptions appear to be buying and consuming the cheapest available blockspace, and are readily displaced by more urgent monetary transfers,” the report states. Despite the increase, inscriptions account for about 20% or less of transaction fees paid to miners. The technology lets users add content to the Bitcoin blockchain using the Segwit d...