Bitcoin measures time in blocks—each block representing approximately 10 minutes of network activity.

The last Bitcoin is projected to be mined in the year 2140, with the end date uncertain but most estimates falling between 2102 and 2140 depending on factors like mining difficulty and network conditions. The error range for this projection is not measured in hours or days, but in weeks to possibly several years, because the block timing can vary and minor network adjustments can collectively shift the estimate by larger time frames.

Almost all Bitcoin (99.9%) will be mined by 2040.

Bitcoin, created in 2009 by Satoshi Nakamoto, is a decentralized digital currency that operates on a peer-to-peer network without intermediaries. It was designed as a response to the 2008 financial crisis, offering an alternative to traditional banking systems.

The Bitcoin network is maintained by a distributed network of nodes that validate transactions and maintain the blockchain. The blockchain is a public ledger that records all Bitcoin transactions in chronological order, making it transparent and immutable.

Bitcoin's key innovation is its proof-of-work consensus mechanism, which requires miners to solve complex mathematical problems to validate transactions and add new blocks to the blockchain. This process, known as mining, also creates new Bitcoins and secures the network.

Over the years, Bitcoin has evolved from a niche experiment to a global phenomenon, influencing the development of thousands of other cryptocurrencies and blockchain technologies. Its decentralized nature and limited supply (capped at 21 million coins) have made it attractive as both a digital currency and a store of value.

Bitcoin Ordinals, introduced in early 2023, are a revolutionary development in the Bitcoin ecosystem. Created by Casey Rodarmor, Ordinals allow users to inscribe arbitrary data directly onto individual satoshis (the smallest unit of Bitcoin), effectively turning Bitcoin into a platform for digital artifacts.

The Ordinals protocol assigns a unique number to each satoshi based on the order in which it was mined. This numbering system allows for the creation of "inscriptions" - digital content that is permanently embedded into the Bitcoin blockchain. These inscriptions can include text, images, audio, video, or any other digital data.

Unlike other blockchain-based NFTs, Ordinals are stored directly on Bitcoin's main chain, making them immutable and inheriting Bitcoin's security and decentralization. This approach has sparked both excitement and controversy within the Bitcoin community, as it represents a new use case for Bitcoin beyond simple value transfer.

The emergence of Ordinals has opened up new possibilities for digital art, collectibles, and data storage on Bitcoin, while also raising questions about blockchain bloat and the original vision of Bitcoin as a peer-to-peer electronic cash system.

A Bitcoin wallet is a software program or hardware device that allows you to store, send, and receive Bitcoin. Think of it like a digital bank account, but instead of holding physical money, it holds the private keys that give you access to your Bitcoin on the blockchain. Wallets don't actually store your Bitcoin - they store the credentials needed to access it.

Bitcoin Address Types and Their Relation to Ordinals

Our platform supports a wide range of Bitcoin wallets to ensure accessibility for all users. We've carefully selected wallets that provide both security and ease of use for managing Bitcoin and Ordinals.

Leather (Hiro)

Leather, formerly known as Hiro, is a popular Bitcoin wallet specifically designed for Ordinals and Bitcoin NFTs. It offers seamless integration with Ordinals marketplaces and provides an intuitive interface for managing both Bitcoin and digital artifacts.

Xverse

Xverse is a comprehensive Bitcoin wallet that supports both Bitcoin and Ordinals. It features a clean, user-friendly interface and includes built-in marketplace functionality for buying and selling Ordinals.

Magic Eden

Magic Eden is primarily known as an NFT marketplace, but it also offers wallet functionality for Bitcoin and Ordinals. It provides a seamless experience for users who want to manage their digital assets in one place.

Unisat

Unisat is a specialized Bitcoin wallet designed specifically for Ordinals. It offers advanced features for managing Bitcoin inscriptions and provides integration with various Ordinals marketplaces and services.

In March 2023, TwelveFold became one of the first art collections to explore the new frontier of Bitcoin Ordinals. At a moment when the idea of inscribing digital art directly onto Bitcoin was still an experiment, TwelveFold embraced the medium with conviction. It demonstrated that the oldest blockchain—long celebrated for its permanence and simplicity—could also serve as a canvas for contemporary digital art.

The collection consists of 300 unique pieces that visualize blockchain time. Just as Bitcoin's ledger is built block by block, TwelveFold interprets the passing of time as layered patterns, recursive forms, and shifting geometries. Each work becomes a meditation on how digital permanence is etched into Bitcoin's immutable structure—turning abstract timestamps into expressive patterns.

Blockchain Time as Metaphor

Unlike a clock on the wall, Bitcoin does not measure time in seconds—it measures it in blocks. Each block is designed to arrive roughly every 10 minutes, but in practice they can arrive faster or slower depending on the network. Over years, these small variations accumulate into meaningful uncertainty.

This is why no one can say with certainty when the last Bitcoin will be mined. Estimates suggest the year 2140, but it could be decades earlier or later depending on the rhythm of block creation. Bitcoin's time is elastic, probabilistic—a human attempt to synchronize with something inherently unpredictable.

TwelveFold captures this temporal uncertainty in its visual language. The works are generated algorithmically, using the block height and timestamp of each inscription as seeds for their creation. This means each piece is not just inspired by blockchain time—it is literally a product of it.

The Art of Inscription

The process of creating TwelveFold was as much about the medium as the message. Each piece had to be carefully crafted to work within Bitcoin's constraints—file size limits, transaction costs, and the permanence of the blockchain. The artists had to consider not just the visual impact, but the technical reality of inscription.

This constraint became a creative force. The limited file sizes forced a focus on essential elements, while the permanence of the blockchain added weight to every artistic decision. Each TwelveFold piece would exist forever, immutable and unchangeable, making the creation process both thrilling and daunting.

A New Chapter in Digital Art

TwelveFold represents more than just a collection of digital art—it's a proof of concept for a new way of thinking about digital ownership and permanence. By inscribing art directly onto Bitcoin, the collection bridges the gap between the digital and the permanent, creating something that exists in the realm of the blockchain but speaks to universal themes of time, change, and human creativity.

The collection has since become a landmark in the history of Bitcoin art, inspiring countless other projects and establishing a new paradigm for digital collectibles. It showed that Bitcoin could be more than just a currency—it could be a platform for artistic expression and cultural preservation.

Next for TwelveFold

At 300 editions, TwelveFold is a limited collection described at launch as a wholly complete project with no further milestones or roadmap. The intent was to focus on the pieces, the story, and the provenance as the main drivers for collection.

The project continues to work behind the scenes to facilitate acquisitions for the best long term collectors, with an eye to placement in the collections of cultural institutions.

Additionally, TwelveFold infrastructure continues development to be functionally independent from outside services and APIs. The long term goal is to create an independent infrastructure stack that can outlast any existing companies and survive as long as Bitcoin itself.