Taproot Wizards Bitcoin Ordinals Sale Begins March 25, Priced at 0.2 BTC Each

Taproot Wizards, a collection of digital artworks inspired by the 2013 r/Bitcoin wizard, are set to go on sale for the first time two years after being inscribed on Bitcoin as Ordinals. Unlike traditional NFTs, Ordinals are pieces of data or art attached directly to satoshis, which are the smallest units of a bitcoin. The sale, which begins on March 25, will feature 2,085 Wizards available through the project’s website, with additional honorary Wizards to be inscribed and given away separately.

Minting a Taproot Wizard will cost collectors 0.2 BTC, approximately $16,000 at the time of writing. However, holders of Quantum Cats, another Bitcoin Ordinals collection from the same team, will receive a discount. Those who own two “entangled” Quantum Cats—one with the “alive” trait and one with the “dead” trait—can mint a Wizard for 0.1 BTC, about $7,900. This discount plays off Schrödinger’s Cat, a famous quantum physics thought experiment where a cat exists in both living and dead states until observed.

The price of Taproot Wizards reflects their scarcity, with only 2,121 in existence, a stark contrast to the more typical 10,000-piece collections. Despite the high price, the cult-like following of the Wizards suggests they may still sell out. The founder of the Wizards, Udi Wertheimer, reflected on the journey of the past two years, noting the unique challenges and commitments made by fans to prove their worth.

Some Bitcoin maximalists have criticized the existence of Ordinals art on Bitcoin, labeling it as blockchain “vandalism.” However, fans have embraced the absurdity, with some going to extreme lengths to demonstrate their commitment. Wertheimer noted that the team is actively hiring and recently raised $30 million in a funding round led by Standard Crypto. The team is advocating for OP_CAT, a proposal that could add more functionality to Bitcoin, similar to Ethereum’s smart contracts. Originally created by Satoshi Nakamoto, OP_CAT was disabled in 2010 due to security concerns but could enable covenants, improved smart contracts, and more flexible transaction logic if reintroduced.

Most Wizards will be sold via a wh