Taproot Wizards, one of the most well-known projects in the Ordinals ecosystem, has announced an open auction for its Wizards NFT collection. The tokens, created two years ago, will be available for public sale starting March 25.
The collection consists of 2,121 unique wizard images, inspired by early Bitcoin culture symbols. The last 13 "honorary" pieces will not be included in the auction, as they have not yet received their inscriptions.
The History of Bitcoin Wizards and Their Cultural Significance
The Wizards collection is based on the iconic Bitcoin Wizard meme, which first appeared on Reddit in 2013. Created by an anonymous user in MS Paint, the meme became an unofficial symbol of Bitcoin.
All NFTs in the collection reflect various milestones in crypto history, featuring references to figures such as Jameson Lopp and Cobie, as well as cultural elements like McDonald's and financial bubbles.
Taproot Wizards was founded by Bitcoin commentators Udi Wertheimer and Eric Wall, who are also behind Quantum Cats, the largest Ordinals collection by market cap. Their projects aim to promote Bitcoin technological advancements, such as OP_CAT, while preserving the "magic" of decentralized money.
OP_CAT and the Expansion of Bitcoin’s Capabilities
OP_CAT is a Bitcoin scripting function initially introduced by Satoshi Nakamoto to enable custom and automated transactions. However, it was later disabled due to the lack of practical applications at the time.
Now, OP_CAT is being reconsidered as a tool that could enhance Bitcoin’s functionality, making it more dynamic, similar to Ethereum.
Bitcoin opcodes determine what operations are possible within Bitcoin scripts. Wertheimer believes OP_CAT could drive innovation in Bitcoin’s ecosystem:
“The key to OP_CAT is its flexibility. I expect developers to create numerous new protocols. Instead of rare launches like Ordinals or BRC-20, we’ll see a new wave of innovation, similar to the boom in Ethereum or Solana, where new protocols emerged every day.”
In February, Taproot Wizards raised $30 million in a funding round led by Standard Crypto, which is expected to support the development of OP_CAT-based applications.
How to Participate in the Wizards NFT Auction
The first phase of the Wizards NFT sale is exclusive to members of the "Wizard School" community on Discord. To join the whitelist, users completed various quests, such as interacting with the Lightning Network and uploading "proof of soul" — a selfie in a wizard costume.
More than 1,000 participants engaged in these activities.
- Whitelist Wizards NFTs will be sold at a fixed price of 0.2 BTC (~$16.5K).
- Remaining NFTs will be available via a Dutch auction, where the price gradually decreases over time.
- Owners of two linked Quantum Cats will be able to purchase a Taproot Wizard NFT at a discount for 0.1 BTC (~$8.25K).
This post is for informational purposes only and is not an ad or investment advice. Please do your own research making any decisions.