Bitcoin has undergone its third-ever block reward halving, which cut block rewards on the blockchain from 12.5 BTC per block to 6.25 BTC. The block ahead of the halving included a secret message to bitcoiners.
F2Pool, a major cryptocurrency mining pool that managed to mine block 629,999 – the last one with a 12.5 BTC reward – included a message reminding the cryptocurrency space of Bitcoin’s origins. Using block explorers, it’s possible to see the message F2Pool left to the world:
NYTimes 09/Apr/2020 With $2.3T Injection, Fed's Plan Far Exceeds 2008 Rescue
The cryptocurrency mining pool’s message references a New York Times article that addresses the Federal Reserve’s response to the coronavirus-induced economic crisis. The central bank has been printing money at a record rate to support the economy, so much so its balance sheet is now over $6.7 trillion.
The message F2Pool included in block 629,999 alludes to a message left on Bitcoin’s genesis block by the cryptocurrency’s creator back in January 2009. It reads:
The Times 03/Jan/2009 Chancellor on brink of second bailout for banks
Bitcoin was created as a response to the 2008 financial crisis, as an alternative to the current economic system. F2Pool’s message seemingly reminds us all of Bitcoin’s origins at a time in which central banks throughout the world have engaged in quantitative easing on a massive scale, a move that could dilute people’s savings if inflation rises.
Other bitcoiners have also sent inserted small messages on the Bitcoin blockchain at the time of the halving. Most celebrated the event with messages that won’t be going away as they’re stored on the blockchain, while others thanked Satoshi Nakamoto for his work.
Other Bitcoiners, according to a Reddit thread, published messages of hope for “prosperity and freedom” for all, while others said they “hope COVID-19 will end soon and the world will be a better place.”
Featured image via Pexels.
