The BRC-20 token standard is an experimental protocol for issuing fungible tokens on the Bitcoin blockchain. By leveraging the Ordinals protocol, BRC-20 uses JSON-formatted inscriptions to deploy token contracts, mint new tokens, and facilitate transfers. As interest in Bitcoin-based tokens grows, users are increasingly engaging with BRC-20 assets through wallets like OKX Wallet. This guide answers the most common questions about minting, trading, managing, and troubleshooting BRC-20 activities.
How to Mint BRC-20 Tokens
To mint a BRC-20 token, you’ll first need to hold a sufficient amount of BTC in your wallet. You can either buy BTC directly within the wallet or transfer BTC from another source.
Navigate to Discover > NFT > Inscriptions > Ordinals > Minting Center. On the general BTC inscription page, select BRC-20, then choose the Mint type. Enter the four-letter token ticker (e.g., csas), specify the quantity, repetition count, and set your receiving address before confirming the transaction.
Once minted, you can view your BRC-20 token by going to the homepage, tapping Token Management, entering the token name, and adding it using the + button. The token balance will then appear on your main asset list.
👉 Learn how to start minting BRC-20 tokens today
Why Is My BRC-20 Transaction Stuck in “Confirming”?
BRC-20 minting and trading transactions require confirmation from the Bitcoin network. Due to recent spikes in on-chain activity, network congestion has increased, leading to longer confirmation times—sometimes up to 1–2 days.
If your transaction shows as “Confirming,” it means it’s still pending in the mempool. You can track its progress via a blockchain explorer. While waiting, avoid resubmitting the transaction to prevent duplicate fees.
Patience is key during peak congestion periods. Consider checking network fee rates and adjusting future transactions accordingly to improve processing speed.
Common Reasons for BRC-20 Minting Failures
Several factors can cause a BRC-20 minting attempt to fail:
- Insufficient Gas Fees: The most frequent cause. If the fee offered is too low, miners may ignore your transaction.
- Network Congestion: High traffic on the BTC network can delay or drop low-priority transactions.
- Pending Confirmation Status: Even if the interface shows completion, the transaction might still be unconfirmed on-chain—leading to apparent failure.
⚠️ Note: Failed mints may still incur gas fees. These are collected by miners and cannot be refunded by OKX or any platform.
To reduce failure risks, ensure adequate BTC for fees and avoid minting during peak hours unless using dynamic fee adjustment tools.
Using the EVM Inscription Tool
While BRC-20 operates on Bitcoin, OKX Wallet also supports EVM-based inscriptions via protocols like Ethscriptions—an equivalent to Ordinals but on Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) chains.
Access the tool via OKX Wallet Web > Dashboard > Tools > Inscription Tool. Choose your desired EVM network (e.g., Ethereum). For identical content across multiple inscriptions, use Single Text Mode; for unique entries, select Multiple Text Mode.
The tool auto-fills the prefix data:,, so no manual input is needed. After entering your content and connecting your wallet, click Confirm to initiate signing. Each inscription requires a separate signature if batching multiple items.
This feature enables creative expression and digital ownership across EVM-compatible blockchains.
How to List, Delist, or Reduce Price of Inscriptions
Listing a BRC-20 Inscription
In the Web3 Wallet app:
- Go to Discover > NFT > Inscriptions > Ordinals
- Select your BRC-20 token and tap List
- You must first mint a transfer inscription (sats) by clicking Go Mint, specifying quantity, and signing
- Wait for 3 block confirmations
- Return and click List Inscription, enter price, then confirm
Ensure you hold both the BRC-20 asset and enough BTC for gas fees throughout this process.
Adjusting or Removing Listings
From the My Orders section:
- Tap Lower Price to revise your asking price
- Tap Delist to remove the listing
Note: Delisting incurs a network fee. Maintain a small BTC reserve to cover these costs. If BTC is insufficient, you’ll be prompted to Add BTC before proceeding.
👉 Discover how to manage your inscriptions like a pro
How to Buy BRC-20 Tokens
Buying BRC-20 tokens is straightforward:
- Navigate to the Ordinals page
- Browse available tokens and tap Buy
- Sort listings by price (unit or total), or filter by listing time for better deals
- Review final price and estimated gas fee
- Confirm purchase
Transactions are executed directly on-chain, so ensure your wallet has enough spendable UTXOs and no pending operations that could interfere.
Handling BTC Balance Insufficient Errors
Even with visible BTC balance, you may encounter “insufficient funds” errors due to UTXO (Unspent Transaction Output) constraints. Here’s why and how to fix it:
Common Scenarios:
Transferring BTC or Buying NFTs: Only confirmed UTXOs, change from pending transactions, or unlocked UTXOs are usable.
- Cause: Transaction amount exceeds sum of usable UTXOs; pending trades blocking funds; fragmented UTXOs.
- Fix: Reduce transfer amount, wait for pending transactions to clear, or unlock UTXOs carefully.
Minting BRC-20 or Staking: Only confirmed UTXOs are accepted.
- Cause: Pending transactions or all UTXOs locked.
- Fix: Add more BTC or wait for confirmation.
Purchasing Assets: Similar rules apply.
- Cause: High total cost exceeding usable outputs; slow data sync; all balances occupied.
- Fix: Increase available BTC or resolve pending states.
In rare cases, having many small UTXOs ("dust") can prevent full balance usage—even clicking "Max" returns zero. Consolidating UTXOs may help but should be done cautiously.
How to Unlock UTXO Holdings
UTXOs represent unspent Bitcoin outputs—essentially your spendable balance segments. Some UTXOs may be locked due to associated inscriptions (NFTs or BRC-20 tokens).
To unlock:
- Tap BTC on the home screen
- Go to UTXO Management
- Select specific locked UTXOs and tap Unlock
- Or use One-click Unlock to automatically release UTXOs tied to low-value inscriptions
⚠️ Warning: Unlocking a UTXO containing a valuable inscription (NFT/BRC-20) risks permanent asset loss. Always verify content before unlocking.
If you accidentally unlock a valuable UTXO:
- Visit the Unlocked tab
- Find the entry and tap Restore Lock
Note: Unlocked UTXOs cannot pay for minting but can still be used to cover network fees. Your ability to mint new tokens remains unaffected.
👉 Master UTXO management and optimize your wallet performance
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Can I mint any BRC-20 token I want?
A: Yes, as long as it follows the four-letter ticker format and complies with JSON structure requirements defined by the BRC-20 standard.
Q: Do I need separate wallets for BRC-20 and EVM inscriptions?
A: No. OKX Wallet supports both Bitcoin-native (BRC-20) and EVM-based inscriptions in one interface.
Q: What happens if I pay gas but my mint fails?
A: Gas fees are non-refundable since they compensate miners for computational work, even on failed transactions.
Q: Why do I need to mint a transfer inscription before listing?
A: This proves ownership control over the satoshi carrying the token data—a security measure required by marketplaces.
Q: Can I recover a delisted inscription?
A: Yes, simply re-list it from your inscriptions list as long as you still own it.
Q: Is there a fee to list or delist?
A: Listing is usually free, but delisting requires a small BTC network fee to process the blockchain update.
By understanding these core processes—minting mechanics, UTXO behavior, listing workflows, and error resolution—you can confidently navigate the evolving world of Bitcoin inscriptions and BRC-20 tokens using OKX Wallet.