Trump's Digital Trading Cards Launched on the Bitcoin Blockchain, Stirring Ordinals Market
President-elect Donald Trump has introduced his latest venture into the Bitcoin and digital realm: the "Trump Bitcoin Digital Trading Cards." This collection, featuring 160 unique items, has been inscribed onto the Bitcoin blockchain via the Ordinals protocol, marking a significant moment where politics meets blockchain.
The initiative targets users who previously purchased the "Mugshot Edition" NFTs, offering them an exclusive opportunity to claim these new digital assets. Those who had the foresight to mint their Bitcoin wallets with the earlier edition can now participate in what's becoming a hot topic among NFT enthusiasts.
The Ordinals Protocol and Its Rising Popularity
Ordinals are a fascinating aspect of Bitcoin, allowing for the inscription of data onto individual satoshis - the smallest unit of Bitcoin. This particular collection utilizes "Alpha sats," the first satoshis of a Bitcoin block, enhancing their uniqueness. On the marketplace Magic Eden, where these Ordinals are being traded, the floor price for these Trump-inspired NFT’s has started at 0.25 BTC, with the highest priced Ordinal reaching up to 9.8 BTC.
The market for Ordinals experienced a lull towards the end of May 2024, with inscriptions averaging between 13,000 to 35,000 per month through November. However, the market has shown signs of revival, with inscriptions last month ranging from 54,000 to 92,000, according to data analytics from Dune Analytics. This resurgence suggests a renewed interest in Bitcoin-based NFTs, potentially catalyzed by high-profile collections like Trump's.
Donald Trump's foray into NFTs isn't new; he's previously launched several collections, including the well-known "Trump Digital Trading Cards" series. His most recent "America First" edition from August 2024 not only featured digital art but also promised tangible perks like gold-themed sneakers and a dinner with Trump himself. Despite these incentives, trading activity for this collection has been surprisingly muted according to NFT Price Floor aggregator data.
This integration of Trump's digital memorabilia into Bitcoin's ecosystem not only taps into the growing trend of blockchain collectibles but also highlights the merging of cultural icons with digital asset innovation.