Quick add · pick a size
Don't Trust, Verify
Unisex tee · XS–3XL
$39.99
Hover to zoomGenesis Block Chancellor on Brink Bitcoin T-Shirt
$39.99
The headline hidden in bitcoin's very first block, printed with its date and block number.
- Unisex tailored fit, sizes XS–3XL
- Free US shipping over $75, $4.99 below
- 30-day size exchanges on unworn tees
About this design
An orange folded newspaper with blank columns sits above CHANCELLOR ON BRINK / OF SECOND BAILOUT / FOR BANKS in white capitals, followed by 03 JAN 2009 · BLOCK 0 in small orange type.
Fabric, fit & print
| Material | Airlume combed & ring-spun cotton |
|---|---|
| Fit | Unisex tailored crew neck |
| Printed to order | |
| Sizes | XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL |
| SKU | BC-GENESIS |
Shipping & exchanges
Ships in 3–4 business days, tracked. See the shipping policy and returns & exchanges.
The story
Behind the Genesis Block tee
Bitcoin's first block carries a newspaper headline about bank bailouts. This tee prints that line exactly, a time stamp and a statement in one.
Bitcoin's first block, known as the genesis block or block 0, was mined on January 3, 2009. Its creator embedded a line of text in it: “The Times 03/Jan/2009 Chancellor on brink of second bailout for banks,” a headline from that day's edition of the London newspaper. It shows the block was not made before that date, and many read it as a comment on the banking crisis bitcoin was built to answer. The 50 BTC reward in that block can never be spent.
Built for the history buff who can recite the headline from memory. Three lines of text and a small date read best up close, so it suits meetups, conferences and January 3 celebrations. Non-bitcoiners may take it for a news headline, which is an easy opening for the story.
Questions
About this design
Is the Genesis Block tee an official bitcoin or newspaper product?
No. It is an independent tribute by Bitcoin Casual, not affiliated with or endorsed by Satoshi Nakamoto, any bitcoin developer or The Times. The newspaper drawing has no masthead or logo, only the headline text that sits inside block 0.
Why can't the genesis block reward be spent?
The 50 BTC created in block 0 was never added to the database of spendable coins the software keeps, so the network rejects any attempt to move it. Whether that was deliberate or a quirk of the early code is still debated.
What does BLOCK 0 mean on the shirt?
Blocks are numbered by height, starting at zero. Block 0 is the genesis block, and every later block links back to it through a chain of hashes. Printing the number next to the date pins the headline to its exact place in bitcoin's history.
Keep stacking
All 61 designsYou might also like
Quick add · pick a size
Bitcoin Fixes This
Unisex tee · XS–3XL
$39.99
Quick add · pick a size
Proof of Work
Unisex tee · XS–3XL
$39.99
Find it inAll Bitcoin t-shirtsBitcoin history shirtsBitcoin quote shirtsShirts for menTech & node runner shirtsGuide: Bitcoin White Paper Explained, a Plain-English Summary of All 12 SectionsGuide: Famous Bitcoin Quotes, From Satoshi Nakamoto to the CypherpunksGuide: Bitcoin Holidays Calendar, Every Date Worth Celebrating
Genesis Block$39.99