TL;DR
- EthCC and Protocol Guild unveiled an on-chain “time capsule” at EthCC Cannes for Ethereum’s 10th anniversary, letting users lock digital artifacts into smart contracts.
- Submissions are encrypted via Shutter Network’s threshold encryption, fragmenting entries into shards that remain sealed until Ethereum’s 11th birthday.
- For just 0.001 ETH per entry ($2.50), anyone can immortalize art, messages, or predictions, and all fees support core protocol research.
In celebration of Ethereum’s 10th anniversary, the Ethereum Community Conference (EthCC) in Cannes became the stage for a novel experiment in on-chain memory. EthCC, alongside the Protocol Guild and encryption specialist Shutter Network, unveiled an on-chain “time capsule” inviting enthusiasts to encrypt and lock digital artifacts into smart contracts.
Each locked memory costs just $2.50 in ETH, with proceeds fueling core protocol research. With ETH’s market cap nearing $300 billion, this cryptographic ritual underscores the network’s cultural significance as it grows in ambition.
It's time to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Ethereum!
Shutter, @EthCC & @ProtocolGuild invite the entire Ethereum ecosystem to leave a permanent mark on-chain with the Ethereum Time Capsule.
Preserve the Past, Protect the Future.
The @ethtimecapsule is live NOW!
🧵1/6 pic.twitter.com/4EmZmwOz9I
— Shutter 🛡️⚔️ (@ShutterNetwork) June 30, 2025
A Landmark at EthCC
On June 30, voices buzzed as attendees tested the capsule’s interface, submitting files through a simple minting process. Founder and EthCC president Jérôme de Tychey emphasized the ritual’s power: “Celebrating our history nurtures Ethereum’s culture and values.” With the genesis block’s 10th anniversary looming on July 30, the capsule blends ceremony with cutting-edge tech, transforming ephemeral festival moments into immutable blockchain entries.
Encryption Meets Ethereum
At the heart of the project lies Shutter Network’s threshold encryption. When a user hits “submit,” their submission fragments into encrypted shards distributed across nodes. No single party can view the contents until the predetermined reveal date. This cryptographic choreography ensures that entries remain sealed until Ethereum’s 11th birthday, exactly one year after launch. Once the countdown ends, smart contracts orchestrate a coordinated decryption and permanent on-chain storage.
Sealing Memories, Fueling Research
Accessibility drives participation. For roughly 0.001 ETH, anyone can immortalize a snapshot of today’s Ethereum world. From personal reflections to bold predictions for the next decade, submissions create a mosaic of hopes and histories. Protocol Guild contributor “Cheeky Gorilla” frames the capsule as both archive and inspiration: a moment to pause, take stock, and imagine Ethereum’s evolving future. All fees collected underwrite the Guild’s foundational work on protocol upgrades.
Opening the Vault of Tomorrow
When July 30, 2026, arrives, each encrypted entry will emerge in full view on Ethereum’s ledger, a living museum chronologizing a decade of decentralized innovation. As Vitalik Buterin’s vision from the 2013 whitepaper ripples through time, the capsule promises a collective time-travel experience: a bridge between Genesis and the next era of programmable finance.
