UniSat

Overview

UniSat (unisat.io) is the dominant Bitcoin-native marketplace and wallet for Ordinals, BRC-20, Runes, and Alkanes. Operated by UniPro Technology Limited, UniSat was the first Chrome extension wallet to support BRC-20 tokens and has since grown into the largest venue for trading Bitcoin inscription assets.

As of 2026, UniSat serves 25 million+ active users, processes over $1.2 billion in lifetime trading volume, has inscribed more than 100 million assets, and serves over 14.3 billion API calls — making it the most-used Bitcoin Ordinals infrastructure in the world.

UniSat's marketplace runs on a PSBT-based trustless settlement model: rather than escrowing assets, listings are signed Partially-Signed Bitcoin Transactions that buyers co-sign and broadcast — meaning assets never leave sellers' wallets until the trade settles on Bitcoin mainnet.

Beyond the core marketplace, UniSat's ecosystem spans UniScan (an all-in-one Bitcoin / Fractal block explorer), UniHexa (a hybrid CEX-grade performance with DEX self-custody trading layer), InSwap (an AMM-style swap for BRC-20 and Runes pairs), and a built-in Inscription service for Ordinals, BRC-20, Runes, and Alkanes.

UniSat's 2023 launch paralleled (and helped catalyse) the BRC-20 token standard created by Domo; it remains the default venue for trading blue-chip BRC-20 tokens like ORDI, SATS, and PIZZA, plus Runes and the newer Alkanes protocol.

Fees & Pricing

UniSat's fee model is competitive for a Bitcoin-native venue.

Side	Fee
Marketplace trade fee (taker)	0.5%
Maker rebates	Often 0% during Zero-Fee promotions
Inscription service fee	Service fee + on-chain Bitcoin fee (sats/vB)
API fee	Tiered by call volume (see UniSat API Terms)
Creator royalty (secondary)	Creator-controlled, configurable per collection
Bitcoin network fee (gas)	Paid by transacting party, quoted in sats/vB

UniSat periodically runs zero-fee promotions on BRC-20 and Runes trading pairs. Settlement is non-custodial via PSBT — UniSat never holds assets.

Features & Tools

First BRC-20 wallet + largest Bitcoin Ordinals marketplace

UniSat was the first open-source Chrome extension to support BRC-20 tokens and is today the largest Bitcoin-native Ordinals marketplace, anchoring the BRC-20 ecosystem since its 2023 launch.

Ordinals + BRC-20 + Runes + Alkanes support

UniSat covers every major Bitcoin inscription protocol: Ordinals (1/1 NFTs on Bitcoin satoshis), BRC-20 (fungible tokens), Runes (Casey Rodarmor's 2024 protocol), and the newer Alkanes standard — making it a one-stop shop for Bitcoin-native on-chain assets.

PSBT trustless settlement

All trades settle via Partially-Signed Bitcoin Transactions (PSBTs). Sellers sign listings without surrendering custody; buyers co-sign and broadcast the final transaction. UniSat never holds assets during a trade.

Inscription service (Inscribe)

UniSat offers a built-in Inscribe service for Ordinals, BRC-20, Runes, and Alkanes — letting users mint new inscriptions through a friendly UI instead of constructing raw Bitcoin transactions.

UniScan block explorer

UniScan is UniSat's all-in-one explorer for Bitcoin and Fractal — covering addresses, transactions, blocks, assets, and on-chain activity with real-time insights.

Fractal Bitcoin integration

UniSat natively supports Fractal Bitcoin — a flexible, fast, and robust extension of Bitcoin mainnet — farming, swapping, and inscription on both networks within one wallet.

UniHexa — hybrid CEX/DEX trading layer

UniHexa combines CEX-grade performance with DEX-style self-custody for fast, secure trading of Bitcoin-native assets — a flagship trading venue in UniSat's growing stack.

InSwap AMM

InSwap is UniSat's built-in swap layer for BRC-20 and Fractal-Bitcoin token pairs — letting users trade without leaving the wallet for off-platform DEXs.

UTXO management

UniSat gives users granular UTXO controls for Bitcoin, Ordinals, Runes, and Alkanes — including segregated sat selection, fee-rate override, and shard-aware tx construction.

Pros & Cons

Pros

First and largest open-source Bitcoin Ordinals / BRC-20 wallet and marketplace
25M+ active users; $1.2B+ lifetime trading volume; deep liquidity for ORDI, SATS, PIZZA
Supports every major Bitcoin inscription protocol — Ordinals, BRC-20, Runes, Alkanes
PSBT-based trustless settlement — assets never leave seller's wallet during a trade
Built-in Inscription service for minting without writing raw Bitcoin transactions
Robust ecosystem: UniScan explorer, UniHexa hybrid CEX/DEX, InSwap AMM, Fractal Bitcoin
Granular UTXO management — power-user friendly
Periodic zero-fee promotions boost trading velocity
Open-source wallet — auditable and multi-platform (browser + Android APK)
Creator-controlled royalty configuration on secondary sales

Cons

Bitcoin-native only — no Ethereum, Solana, or multi-chain exposure
Power-user UI — steeper learning curve than Magic Eden or OpenSea for newcomers
Network fees (BTC sats/vB) can spike during high-activity windows, raising mint costs
BRC-20 and Runes token markets remain high-volatility and speculative — high risk for casual collectors
Single-custody-model ecosystem can concentrate risk if wallet seed is mishandled
Royalty enforcement depends on cooperation of secondary marketplaces (Bitcoin-native PSBT royalty is softer than Ethereum ERC-721 enforcement)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is UniSat?

UniSat (unisat.io) is the leading open-source Bitcoin Ordinals / BRC-20 / Runes / Alkanes wallet and marketplace, operated by UniPro Technology Limited. It serves 25M+ users and has processed $1.2B+ in lifetime trading volume.

How much does UniSat charge?

UniSat charges a 0.5% trade fee on marketplace trades, with periodic zero-fee promotions. Inscription service includes a service fee plus the on-chain Bitcoin fee (sats/vB). Royalties on secondary sales are creator-controlled and configurable per collection.

Is UniSat safe? Does it hold my assets?

UniSat is non-custodial. All trades settle via PSBT (Partially-Signed Bitcoin Transactions) — you sign listings locally and buyers co-sign to complete trades. UniSat never holds your Bitcoin or Ordinals. Keep your wallet seed phrase secure.

Which assets can I trade on UniSat?

UniSat supports every major Bitcoin-native inscription protocol — Ordinals (1/1 NFTs), BRC-20 (fungible tokens like ORDI, SATS, PIZZA), Runes (Casey Rodarmor's protocol), and Alkanes.

When was UniSat founded?

UniSat launched in early 2023 alongside the rise of the BRC-20 token standard; it was the first wallet to support BRC-20 and remains the dominant Bitcoin Ordinals marketplace as of 2026.

Does UniSat support networks other than Bitcoin?

Yes — UniSat also natively supports Fractal Bitcoin, a flexible, fast, and robust extension of Bitcoin mainnet, including inscription, farming, and swapping on the Fractal network. UniSat does not support Ethereum, Solana, or other EVM/L1 chains.

Does UniSat enforce creator royalties?

Royalty policy is creator-controlled on a per-collection basis. Because trades settle via PSBT, royalty enforcement on Bitcoin-native assets is softer than on Ethereum ERC-721s; resale royalties depend on participating marketplaces respecting the creator's policy.

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