Just days after the release of the Ordinals protocol, which is based on Bitcoin (BTC), the creator faced their first unexpected challenge as a pornographic image was engraved into the blockchain. On February 2nd, around 12:15 am UTC, an explicit image known as “goatse” was added to the Bitcoin blockchain using the Ordinals protocol. The image appeared as inscription 668 and remained on the Ordinals’ front page for approximately 30 minutes before being taken down. Although it still exists on the blockchain, it cannot be viewed through the Ordinals website. Casey Rodarmor, the creator of Ordinals, swiftly removed the image from the website but acknowledged that there is limited control over similar incidents due to the nature of the protocol. However, he is currently developing a solution to prevent these images from appearing on the Ordinals website in the future. The “goatse” image, notorious for its explicit content, is commonly employed to deceive internet users. Rodarmor explained that, at present, there is no automated method to hide specific inscriptions on the Ordinals website, necessitating manual intervention. Despite this, he intends to implement a “very liberal content policy” that allows users to engrave pornographic images, albeit with a system in place to avoid displaying them on the main page. The Ordinals website features a simple design where each new inscription is showcased on the homepage. Rodarmor’s plan is to introduce a separate section for explicit content until a more automated solution can be implemented. Recent inscriptions on the Ordinals site have included images of Pepe the Frog, a popular cartoon meme. Critics of blockchain technology have raised concerns about its immutable nature potentially facilitating the eternal hosting of illegal or disturbing media. However, others argue that its resistance to censorship is a fundamental characteristic. When asked about potential criticism for censoring certain images, Rodarmor emphasized that his site is just one example of a block explorer and hopes that others will create similar platforms with their own moderation policies. He also mentioned that this is only the second time he has censored a pornographic image, noting that the technical complexity and cost of engraving such images on the BTC network have reduced the frequency of trolling attempts. Ordinals was launched on January 21st and immediately sparked debates within the crypto community about its impact on the Bitcoin ecosystem. The protocol allows for the engraving of satoshis, the native currency of the Bitcoin network, with various content, including images, to create NFT-like structures that can be transferred. Inscribing a satoshi can cost tens of dollars, in contrast to regular network transactions that range from a few cents to a few dollars.
Bitcoin Ordinals developer seeks solution following debut of explicit content