Author: Cookie, BlockBeats
A Puzzle Game Unfolds
Last Sunday, November 3rd, at the early hour of 5 AM, the founder of Ordinals and the Rune Protocol, @rodarmor, shared a tweet that would soon ignite a wave of excitement within the gaming and crypto communities. The tweet, succinct yet intriguing, hinted at a limited-time puzzle game lasting just eight hours, with the prize intriguingly named “cactusseeds.”
To understand the significance of “cactusseeds,” one must delve into its origins. This unique prize is part of the “Dia De Pixales” collection, which represents the first inscription ever made on the Ordinals protocol. Engraved by Casey himself, this original art series showcases a blend of creativity and blockchain technology, visible on Casey’s personal webpage. The term “cactusseeds” refers to a sub-sub inscription, or a grandchild inscription, within the hierarchy of the Ordinals collection, illustrating how NFTs can be organized entirely on-chain without the need for smart contracts on Bitcoin.
The structure of these inscriptions is fascinating. The top layer is the 0th inscription, which can serve as a text representation of the collection’s name. The second layer features a dynamic GIF displaying nine “skulls” from the “Dia De Pixales” series, while the final layer consists of individual NFT images. This hierarchical design allows for an intuitive presentation of the collection, even in the absence of a dedicated trading market.
As the puzzle unfolded, the second sentence of the riddle—”25138 / 29746″—remained a mystery until Casey revealed that it represented a set of Minecraft coordinates leading to his location on the notorious 2b2t server. This announcement set the stage for a thrilling race among players eager to claim the coveted “cactusseeds.”
The Challenge of 2b2t
Navigating the 2b2t server is no easy feat. Known as the oldest anarchic Minecraft server, it has gained notoriety for its chaotic environment and lack of rules. For newcomers, simply escaping the spawn area can be a daunting task, fraught with traps and dangers left by seasoned players. The challenges include:
- A spawn area riddled with destruction and perilous traps.
- The necessity to gather resources to survive the journey to the specified coordinates.
- Constant threats from veteran players who often prey on newcomers.
The spawn area, depicted in an image from four years ago, resembles a desolate landscape filled with lava and scarce resources—truly a “beautiful hell.”
As the clock ticked, a winner emerged. @Rhynohowl1 became the first player to locate Casey on the server, earning the “cactusseeds” as a reward. Interestingly, this player had little prior knowledge of Ordinals or the crypto space, as evidenced by his tweets. His initial reference to “cactusseeds” as an “NFT” prompted corrections from seasoned Ordinals players, clarifying that it was, in fact, an inscription.
How did @Rhynohowl1 stumble upon this opportunity? The information had circulated through a streamer named riths, who broadcasts gameplay on the 2b2t server. The catalyst for this connection was @Brunno_UTXO, co-founder of the Bitcoin NFT project INK, who relayed the details during the livestream, even offering to purchase “cactusseeds” for 1 BTC.
The Aftermath
Following this whirlwind event, @Rhynohowl1 listed the inscription on Magic Eden for an ambitious 10 BTC, despite receiving offers as low as 0.33 BTC. This pricing strategy may have been influenced by Casey’s own comment suggesting that “10 BTC, or broken” was a reasonable expectation for the inscription. Another prominent figure in the Ordinals community, @cbspears, expressed willingness to pay 5 BTC for “cactusseeds.”
In the wake of this event, Casey has become increasingly active in promoting the inscription ecosystem. Following the puzzle’s conclusion, he shared his thoughts on fostering the growth of the Rune and Ordinals ecosystem, steering clear of the promotional tactics employed by other projects. His statements led to a notable increase in the value of “MEMENTO•MORI,” another inscription he released, which had previously seen a decline in market value.
As the landscape of blockchain and NFTs continues to evolve, the story of @Rhynohowl1’s unexpected windfall serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of this space. The future of “cactusseeds” and the broader inscription ecosystem remains uncertain, but the excitement generated by this event is a testament to the innovative spirit driving the intersection of gaming and cryptocurrency.
