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What is bitcoin?
Bitcoin is a decentralized digital currency created in 2009 by a person or persons operating under the name "Satoshi Nakamoto."
A Bitcoin millionaire has hidden more than $2 million in treasure chests across the United States, offering adventurers a chance to uncover a fortune with the help of a clue-filled book. Jon Collins-Black, an entrepreneur who made his wealth investing in cryptocurrency, assembled the treasure as part of a grand project to ignite curiosity and adventure.
The hidden loot includes gold doubloons, rare Pokémon cards, a Bitcoin currently valued at nearly $100,000, and historical artifacts like a diamond and sapphire brooch once owned by Jacqueline Onassis. Collins-Black’s book, "There’s Treasure Inside," contains the puzzles and maps needed to locate the five chests.
Treasure locations designed to be safe and accessible
Collins-Black assures treasure hunters that the chests are not in dangerous or remote locations. None are buried or on private property, and each is within three miles of a public road. "You don’t have to be a genius to solve the clues," he said, according to the New York Post. "If you have curiosity, imagination, and the willingness to try something new, you can find the treasures I’ve hidden."
A treasure hunt for the modern era
The treasure includes a wide variety of items meant to appeal to different interests, such as:
- A fourth-century BCE gold Greek laurel
- A coin designed and minted by Pablo Picasso
- A rare lunar rock specimen
- A Michael Jordan 1986 rookie card
Among the treasures is also a single Bitcoin, adding a digital twist to the age-old thrill of treasure hunting. Collins-Black began planning the hunt during the COVID-19 lockdowns, driven by a desire to create a lasting legacy of adventure.
"I created this treasure hunt because I live for adventure," he said, "and I hope to ignite that same sense of wonder and curiosity in everyone who joins this journey."
Comparisons to past treasure hunts
Collins-Black’s project has drawn comparisons to the infamous treasure hunt initiated by New Mexico art dealer Forrest Fenn. Fenn hid a chest of gold and jewels worth about $2 million in the Rocky Mountains in 2010, leading to a decade-long search that reportedly cost five people their lives before its discovery in 2020. Collins-Black has emphasized that his treasure hunt prioritizes safety and accessibility.
Clues await adventurers
Treasure hunters eager to join the search can start by diving into Collins-Black’s book, which he says offers all the guidance needed to track down the chests. Whether drawn by historical artifacts, valuable collectibles, or the chance to claim a Bitcoin, adventurers have plenty of motivation to take up the quest.
Collins-Black’s treasure hunt has captured imaginations across the country, and only time will tell who will crack the clues to claim the fortune hidden within.