Abu Dhabi, UAE — December 2, 2025 — Bitcoin MENA 2025 will place cultural preservation, artistic collaboration, and educational impact at the forefront of this year’s program with the exhibition and auction of the History of Bitcoin First Edition: a museum-grade, one-of-one fine-art book that has rapidly emerged as one of the most significant physical artifacts in bitcoin’s culture.
Crafted over four years and brought to life by 128 artists from 37 countries, the First Edition documents bitcoin’s evolution from its cypherpunk origins to its rise as a global technological and cultural movement. The book’s 256-page structure pays homage to bitcoin’s SHA-256 cryptographic foundation and its production incorporates more than 40 specialized print techniques.
Encased within a 5,000-year-old fossilized black-oak collector’s box and bound in bull leather with a bespoke Asprey Studio silver emblem, the First Edition bridges bitcoin’s digital beginnings with a material form designed to endure for generations.
The First Edition is now the headline auction item on Scarce.City, which is hosting the online auction in support of the Bitcoin MENA event. Following its tour through the UK, bitcoin Amsterdam, Pubkey in New York, and Mondoir Gallery in Dubai, the book will culminate in Abu Dhabi on December 8, presented in a dedicated multi-wall installation inside the Bitcoin MENA Art Gallery.
A Global Educational Mission
Smashtoshi, the collective behind the project, has pledged 79% of all auction proceeds to My First Bitcoin, the world-leading nonprofit advancing community-led Bitcoin education. The remaining 21% will be distributed to the 128 participating artists whose original works form the heart of the book.
My First Bitcoin aims to bring accessible Bitcoin education to more than 200 million learners worldwide, with structured programs already active across Latin America and quickly growing internationally.
For collectors, the First Edition serves as both a significant cultural artifact and a direct contribution to advancing Bitcoin education worldwide through its support of organizations like My First Bitcoin.
A Cultural Anchor at Bitcoin MENA
At Bitcoin MENA, the First Edition will anchor the entire art program—serving as both the centerpiece of the gallery and the culminating object of a global exhibition tour. The installation includes select artworks, projected visuals, supporting research volumes, and live auction coverage.
Through visual storytelling, the 128 commissioned artworks illuminate the breakthroughs, conflicts, and cultural inflection points that shaped bitcoin’s rise—transforming technical history into an emotional, human narrative that can be felt as well as studied.
“Featuring the First Edition of the History of Bitcoin at Bitcoin MENA reinforces something Bitcoin writer Steven Reiss often points toward: that lasting culture depends on more than screens and memes—especially in a world where an estimated 40–60% of early internet history has already disappeared. Holding this book, feeling its materials, and returning to its pages whenever you choose creates a deeper, more enduring encounter with Bitcoin’s story than any digital format can offer.” — Dennis Koch, Bitcoin Art Gallery Curator
A Collaborative Cultural Record
The History of Bitcoin project draws on:
- 128 commissioned artworks reinterpreting key moments from 1979–2025
- Over 100 interviews with early Bitcoin contributors, including Martti Malmi, Max Keiser, Samson Mow, Trace Mayer, and Aaron van Wirdum
- Visual and conceptual contributions from acclaimed artists such as Jesse Draxler, GMUNK, Billelis, Cypherpunk Now, Ryan Koopmans, Jenni Pasanen, Robert Alice, Jake Fried, Hackatao, and others whose collective markets exceed $250 million in art sales
The book is paired with:
- A companion research volume for note taking
- A public digital archive at historyofbitcoin.io
- A global series of talks and exhibitions
Following the auction of the one-of-one First Edition, 2,139 Collector’s Editions will be released. Each contains a unique fragment of Bitcoin’s original source code, so that collectively the editions hold the complete codebase—a symbolic reflection of bitcoin’s decentralized nature.
Auction & Exhibition Details
- Auction Platform: Scarce.city https://scarce.city/auctions/history-of-bitcoin-first-edition
- Preview: Live now online with in person events at Pubkey in NY on December 1st, and Mondoir Gallery in Dubai on December 4th, RSVP here: https://luma.com/85mk1pzg
- Bidding Window: December 1–10, concludes on December 11th
- Abu Dhabi Exhibition: Bitcoin MENA — December 8, ADNEC https://mena.b.tc/
The First Edition will be presented with curator-led walkthroughs, gallery programming, LED wall features throughout the venue, press access, and appearances from members of the Smashtoshi team.
More information, visuals, and background materials can be found also at https://www.historyofbitcoin.io/
Get Bitcoin MENA conference tickets to see the Art Gallery in person here: https://tickets.b.tc/event/bitcoin-mena-2025/tickets
About The Bitcoin Conference
The Bitcoin Conference, organised by BTC Media, the parent company of Bitcoin Magazine, is a global event series, featuring notable industry speakers, workshops, exhibitions, and entertainment. These events serve as vital platforms for Bitcoin industry leaders, developers, investors, and enthusiasts to gather, network, and exchange ideas. The flagship event took place in 2025 in Las Vegas. Bitcoin 2026 is announced to be held in Las Vegas in April 2026. Its international events include Bitcoin Hong Kong (August 2026), Bitcoin Amsterdam (Autumn 2026) and Bitcoin MENA (Abu Dhabi, December 2025).