The extraordinary $1 million Bitcoin Treasure Hunt: "Satoshi's Treasure"
Raphaël Wernert
8/30/24
Launched on 15 April 2019, the global treasure hunt "Satoshi's Treasure" promised a reward of $1 million in Bitcoin to anyone who could piece together a private key from fragments hidden around the world. The adventure, inspired by cryptocurrency culture, required skills in cryptography, puzzle-solving and collaboration.
The aim of the hunt was clear: to find fragments of a private key that would give access to a wallet containing $1 million in Bitcoin. This key had been divided into 1,000 fragments using Shamir's key-sharing algorithm. To unlock the wallet, at least 400 fragments had to be collected, most of which were hidden on the Internet, while others were scattered in physical locations around the world.
The clues were varied and took many forms, ranging from cryptographic puzzles and logic riddles to physical challenges and geographical searches. Some clues required real treasure-hunting skills, while others were purely logic puzzles or complex mathematical problems, requiring collaboration between participants.
The clues were not only hidden online, but also in physical locations all over the planet. They were spread across every continent, including North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, South America and Oceania. Cities where clues were hidden included New York, San Francisco, Paris, Tokyo and Sydney.
The complexity of the puzzles and the geographical dispersal of the clues made collaboration essential. Players had to form teams to maximise their chances of success, as solving the enigma alone was almost impossible.
Eric Meltzer developed the treasure hunt in collaboration with 18 other people, including Ian Miers, co-creator of Zcash. "A lot of people have joked that we're using the bitcoin version of Ready Player One," said Meltzer. A small but dedicated team was behind this ambitious venture.
From the outset, "Satoshi's Treasure" generated a great deal of interest, particularly among cryptocurrency enthusiasts and puzzle-solvers. More than 6,000 people have signed up to receive updates on new clues.
The first clue directed participants to the Blockstream satellite, which was broadcasting Bitcoin-related data. An enigmatic message, broadcast in four languages, marked the start of the hunt: "Welcome, hunter. What you are reading is the first clue to a great hunt." This cryptic message heralded a major adventure, but also a major challenge.
Several clues marked the different stages of the hunt. For example, for the ‘Nirvana Key’, you had to travel to Rishikesh, India, to obtain a fragment in a specific teahouse. Other clues, such as ‘The Zero-Knowledge Key’, offered rewards in Bitcoin for solving cryptographic puzzles. Each clue was a new stage in this complex adventure.
Two important clues were hidden in Paris, one near the Louvre Museum and the other around the Eiffel Tower, adding a touch of mystery to these iconic monuments.
Several clues marked the different stages of the hunt. For example, for the ‘Nirvana Key’, you had to travel to Rishikesh, India, to obtain a fragment in a specific teahouse. Other clues, such as ‘The Zero-Knowledge Key’, offered rewards in Bitcoin for solving cryptographic puzzles. Each clue was a new stage in this complex adventure.
Two important clues were hidden in Paris, one near the Louvre Museum and the other around the Eiffel Tower, adding a touch of mystery to these iconic monuments.
The treasure hunt never officially came to an end, but activity and participant involvement gradually declined in late 2019 and early 2020. Several factors contributed to this loss of momentum, including the increasing complexity of the puzzles and the decline in communication from the organisers. An article published by Eric Meltzer on Medium revealed that the death of Adam Dupré, one of the main contributors, had precipitated the end of the project.
Despite initial enthusiasm, "Satoshi's Treasure" was never officially resolved, and no one has been able to transfer the Bitcoins from the wallet. The Bitcoins intended for the winner remain inaccessible, adding a touch of mystery to this adventure that will go down in Bitcoin history.
