In Brief:

• A new free-to-play game, Mempool Space Invaders, rewards players with a Bitcoin bounty.
• Players must destroy 10,000 BTC worth of transactions to claim the prize.
• The first to achieve this will earn a 10,000 sats bounty, approximately $7.30.

Bitcoin bounty game launched

Mempool Space Invaders challenges players to blast away Bitcoin “whales” representing real transactions, with the first to destroy 10,000 BTC winning a bounty of 10,000 sats, worth about $7.30.

In this web game, players shoot down whales that fall toward their ship. Each whale corresponds to an actual Bitcoin transaction, boosting the player’s score upon destruction. Missing a whale deteriorates shields, leading to game loss. Players can opt for a fresh start or pay 1,000 sats (around $0.73) to continue.

The game’s premise mirrors real blockchain activity, requiring players to shoot high-value transactions to maximize their score. However, large whale transactions coincide with significant blockchain activity, which players must capitalize on for a shot at the bounty.

Gameplay dynamics

Skill and strategy are crucial. Players face multiple whales simultaneously, emphasizing the need for quick reflexes. Developers also suggested a less conventional method to secure the bounty: sending oneself a massive Bitcoin transaction. “The people’s approach,” said the pseudonymous developer Jasonb, is to “throw up a 10,000 Bitcoin transaction to yourself and wait for it to show up.”

Players must be cautious with transaction fees to ensure profits aren’t negated. For those lacking liquidity, two 5,000 BTC transactions could also work, provided they’re broadcast closely enough to be targeted in the game.

User experiences

While participation can be risky, one player managed to destroy 70 BTC in 20 minutes, while another only 30 BTC. Ultimately, successful completion mandates sharing a screenshot of the game over screen to unlock the bounty. “If they put in the effort to fake that, the sats reward is deserved,” Jasonb noted.

Many other Bitcoin games offer nominal rewards, often overshadowed by the time and effort required. In contrast, Bitcoin traded up 1.3% over the last day, currently around $73,198, with a significant uptick of 9.5% in the past week, even as it remains 42% below its all-time high.