Since Bitcoin became a mainstream phenomenon, many enthusiasts have been seeking ways to earn the cryptocurrency. Some even go for the time wasting option of trying to use faucets which at best results in gaining dust or satoshis. However, there is this little known alternative which gives people with the ability to solve puzzles the opportunity to win bitcoins, sometimes, lots of bitcoins.
This was exactly what happened when the 5 BTC puzzle captioned “The Legend of Satoshi Nakamoto” was solved in January. It took years before someone decrypted it. The puzzle was created by a coin artist and had the private key of the 5 BTC hidden in the artwork.
The puzzle was solved by a programmer named ‘Isaac’ who happened on it when he was searching for coin puzzles. It took him two months of work to “break the code” and claim the 5 BTC prize.
Another puzzle has been posted on May 19, 2018. This new one contains the private key of a wallet containing 1 BTC which the winner will claim. The new puzzle was created by a Reddit user with the username Cryptogreetings. The puzzle which no one has been able to solve is a cryptic black and orange image with a white Bitcoin symbol associated with a wallet address.
With many words and images on the picture, the solver probably has a tough job decoding the mystery. However, that doesn’t deter bitcoin puzzle hunters as many are already working at it hoping to claim the price. The creator has announced that they will give more hints on the solution if no one solves the riddle in one week.
“This work is comprised of Satoshi Nakamoto’s famous whitepaper words, scaled by Log N. Disparate ideas inspired Satoshi to create a solution to revolutionize modern socio-economics and industry,” says Cryptogreetings, who continued by hinting that:
“The work reflects on the elements that brought this technology to life, and challenges the underlying security model. Hidden in plain sight lies something more: a treasure hunt. 1 BTC is concealed within the work.”
Bitcoin puzzles have been getting popular and they are many, especially at Reddit, that it seems a subreddit, bitcoinpuzzles is dedicated to it. These puzzles sometimes hide satoshis, which are small factions of bitcoins or they may hide substantial sums such as the Cryptogreetings puzzle.
Another bitcoin puzzle series that is tied to an Enigma game on Steam. Montecrypto, the game that was made for those that love to solve puzzles made headlines worldwide. The Montecrypto puzzle was solved in February, yielding $50,000 worth of bitcoins and other cryptocurrencies to the solver.
Bitcoin has become very valuable and some Bitcoin millionaires who are interested in steganography will keep challenging the community to crack puzzles to win the coin.
