Bitcoin Ordinals Website Faces Unprecedented DDoS Attack

Bitcoin Ordinals Website Grapples with DDoS Assault

Bitcoin Ordinals' online presence has been disrupted by a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack, resulting in access issues. This event has sparked discussions among those who view Ordinals as cluttering the Bitcoin network.

DDoS Attack on Ordinals: A First in Its History

On December 27, Casey Rodarmor, the creator of Ordinals, reported the site's first DDoS attack since its January inception. Rodarmor expressed his surprise and confusion over the incident on X (formerly Twitter).

Understanding DDoS: A Disruptive Force

A DDoS attack aims to disrupt a server or network by flooding it with excessive internet traffic. This malicious attempt can destabilize the targeted system.

Site Instability and Current Status

Throughout the day, the Ordinals website experienced instability and is currently offline.

Critics React to Ordinals' Website Dilemma

Several critics have noted the irony in the Ordinals website facing spamming issues, mirroring their views on Ordinals' impact on the Bitcoin network.

Luke Dashjr's Perspective on the Attack

Bitcoin mining firm OCEAN's founder, Luke Dashjr, criticized the characterization of the attack, highlighting perceived double standards in calling it a DDoS.

Comparing Ordinals to Network Spam

Some critics, like MeanHash, cautioned against hypocrisy in condemning the DDoS attack, given Ordinals' own network activities.

Controversial Comparisons and Responses

In a contentious comparison, Dashjr likened Ordinals-related spam to more serious offenses, a statement he later retracted.

Potential Countermeasures to Ordinals

The incident follows an initiative by Taproot Wizards' CTO, “Rijndael”, who introduced a code script that could enable node operators to block Ordinals blocks on Bitcoin.

The Debate: Harmful or Harmless?

Andrew Poelstra of Blockstream argues that despite affecting the fee market, Ordinals are a minor element in Bitcoin's economy and don't pose a significant threat.

Ordinals: A Temporary Trend?

Poelstra views Ordinals as a fleeting trend with no technical solution to remove them from Bitcoin, suggesting patience as a response.

Despite the current controversy, it's important to objectively assess the long-term implications of innovations like Ordinals on the stability and functionality of the Bitcoin network.