Somewhere inside a YouTube video, a single word is hidden. That word unlocks part of a phrase. That phrase opens a gate. And beyond that gate is real Bitcoin.
Across different countries, strangers are pausing videos, replaying scenes, decoding riddles, and quietly comparing notes. There are no loud leaderboards or glossy launch campaigns – just a growing trail of clues, a focused community, and a final prize that cannot be printed, promised, or gamified. Only earned.
Behind it is Marek Safarik and a project he refuses to call just a game.
“Okay, so The Game of Satoshi is basically… it’s a whole movement. I will not say it’s a game,” he told Guardians of Bitcoin.
What he has created is a story-driven Bitcoin challenge that blends puzzle solving, real-world action, and economic education – with season one now entering its final days.
A story built on mystery
The idea did not begin with a platform or a marketing funnel. It began with a question.
“I was like, ‘Okay, which story is the most interesting to hear in the Bitcoin space?’” Safarik said. “Of course, Satoshi – and nobody knows [who he is]. So I can create whatever I want, because it’s just my imagination.”
From that starting point came a serialized experience that now plays out across YouTube. Season one launched in October and concludes this month, with its final riddle dropping on January 17.
Rather than presenting itself as a traditional course, The Game of Satoshi unfolds as a long-form scavenger hunt. “It’s a YouTube series – 12 episodes and 12 missions,” Safarik explained. “In those videos, there are hidden clues what you need to decipher to win in Bitcoin in the end.”
The first half of the series explores how money becomes money, moving through historical failures such as debasement and gold confiscation before transitioning into practical Bitcoin lessons.
“Now there was a confiscation of the gold – that was one topic of the video. And then there is a Bitcoin lesson: how to do self custody.”
Each episode also includes an action-based mission. These require players to interact directly with wallets, self-custody practices, and real Bitcoin tools – reinforcing the idea that learning is something you do, not something you passively consume.
Participation is free, and players can join at any point. Only those who have gathered the required clues can enter the elimination phase – a final round that determines who competes for the prize.
“In the elimination phase, there will be some tasks you need to accomplish,” Safarik said. “And then there will be final riddle on 17th January and people will have the opportunity to compete for one Bitcoin.”
A guaranteed Bitcoin prize
From the outset, The Game of Satoshi is built around a guaranteed Bitcoin prize rather than a symbolic reward.
“The one Bitcoin is split between the players who will finish everything,” Safarik said. “One Bitcoin is guaranteed.”
The ambition, however, goes beyond that baseline. Safarik designed the game so that donations and sponsorship can expand the prize pool as the season progresses, allowing the final reward to grow organically alongside the community.
Anyone can now contribute directly to the prize pool through Geyser Fund, allowing the total reward to grow organically as the season progresses.
“All the donation what is coming is going directly to the pool.”
Built by someone who never fit the labels
As the final riddle approaches, The Game of Satoshi continues to grow quietly. Safarik has built the format to evolve, but he is also clear about the challenges that come with expanding it beyond the screen. Physical, location-based riddles introduce new complexity – particularly for a community that is globally distributed.
For now, the project remains primarily focused on Bitcoiners, who already understand the tools and principles being explored through the missions. Future seasons are expected to broaden that focus, gradually shifting toward participants who are new to Bitcoin, while preserving the same learning-by-doing structure.
Safarik’s longer-term plans point toward real-world treasure hunts inspired by Ready Player One, where players move through physical locations to uncover hidden clues. The transition from online to offline formats is not simply a creative step, but a logistical one – balancing accessibility for a global audience with the ambition to create something tangible.
The final riddle drops on January 17. What follows will not only determine who completes the first season, but also shape how the next versions of The Game of Satoshi are built.
