Bitcoin Forum

Hi coiners,
this will be great!

I offer you a private Key of a BTC-adress with a balance of + 0.25 BTC. How much will it cost?
The answer to a puzzle.


The one, who can tell me what it is wins the private key.

I answer questions, but only with YES or NO. The first question costs  0.0001 BTC. This BTC will be part of the "Pot", that already contains 0.25 BTC.  

If a question is answered with YES, the next question will cost twice as much as the last one  (0.0002 BTC.)
If  the second question is also answered with YES, the third question will cost 0.0004 BTC.

But if the third answer is NO, the next question will cost 50% raise (0.0006 BTC) until a YES-answer occurs. (then again: double the cost of the next question).

All in all, after a NO-answer there is a 50% raise on the question costs and 100% raise after a YES-answer.

The highlight: For every YES -answer, i expose three digits of the pots private key.



For example:
'Signed Message :':  "Some people get really jealous, when satoshi shows it them. What is it?" First question: 0.0001 BTC
'Signed Question:': Question 1:  'Username': Can satoshi touch it? * (Paid: 0.0001 BTC)
'Signed Answer:':  Answer: YES, Private Key: 5JQ_________, Next Question: 0.0002 BTC
'Signed Question:': Question 2: 'Username': Can satoshi sell it?* (Paid: 0.0002 BTC)[/i]
'Signed Answer:':  Answer: YES, Private Key: 5JQpDs________, Next Question 0.0004 BTC
'Signed Question:':  Question 3: 'Username':  Does it has wheels? (Paid: 0.0004 BTC)
'Signed Answer:': Answer: NO, Private Key: 5JQpDs________, Next Question 0.0006 BTC

.... Solution: Satoshi's Rolex!
*="Is it touchable ?" & "Is it sellable?" ... Satoshi is only a fictitious character, please don't ask me about him!

If somebody solved the puzzle, I will transfer the whole pot of BTCs to the winner-adress, minus 5% allowance and 5% for the next round with a new puzzle. I also resolve the private key, which adress will be empty.

As you see there are "only" 17 YES-answers. Then, the private key is exposed. Don't forget, the key is in the blockchain. First come, first served. However, 17 Questions are a lot and the NO-Answers also have a value.


Where does the puzzle take place?
In the Blockchain and Forum. Every question is a transaction with BTC and a 'signed message(=question)' to the pot-adress. The answer is also a transaction with a little amount of BTC and a 'signed message(=answer)' to the questioner adress.
I decided, that only members of bitcointalk.org can participate, for now ( at least november 2013 user with 5 Posts!). If somebody asks a question, he has to commit his username in the 'signed question' and post the out-going-adress in the forum. I will check both and answer the question. Finally, the winner is clear. The german-subforum is also playing: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=352092.0

If you expose the private key, is it possible that somebody Brute-Force the adress?
That is in fact possible. Everyone who has technical know-how and good hardware can possibly crack the key. Like mining.
But you should not ignore, cracking takes time. And up to that point, the puzzle could be solved.


Why  should we trust you?
I want you to know, that this account is my second one. A lot of people in the forum know my identity. But in this case, I do not want to reveal it, because I cannot clarify the german law about puzzle- games. It is in the grey area but I don't want to have a dispute because of a little game.
I want this type of game keep going, and i hope, that it will go down well with the community
Btw: I will be at the 'When-Bitcoin-reaches-1000$-Party' for sure.

Is there any escrow?
Yes. The german-sub-forum will choose an escrow. He will get the solution and the private key to monitor the game and my answers + the private key.

How do you handle the questions?
Every question will be accurate inspected and gets a research if needed.
In the case of need,  there will be an answer with a short description or if necessary a full refund.

CAUTION: Please formulate your question accurate (like the examples). This reduces idle time.  

If somebody posts useless stuff, i will ignore it and keep the BTC.  If somebody asks a question and doesn't pay, i will ignore him also.
So everything, that has not to do with the puzzle will be ignored (rhetorical questions too).

When do you answer the question?
Daily, almost every 3 - 8  hours. I have a smart phone and a tablet. Most of the day i am connected to the internet and can react accordingly. Only at night i can't answer ;) (GMT+1!).
I will be more active in case of a 14th YES-answer or higher (when the crackers are going to "mine").


What if there are two unanswered questions?
When a question is given, pleas wait until it is answered.  Otherwise the BTC stays in the pot.

In  some case i will refund. For example: If somebody asks a question at the same time, the last one will be refunded.

Is there a timeline?
Yes, 30 Days from now on (December the 29 at 03:00 PM). If the puzzle wasn´t solved or the interest is lost, the "last -question -wins". The last questioner gets the BTC per transaction and i expose the privat key of the empty adress.


Some further information:
The original Puzzle-Adress is 1GameCdKcrj.... From this adress all further puzzle will be started. The private key will not be exposed.
The current pot-adress (question-aderss) is 1MystSt2....The private key will be exposed in the course of the game.

THE GAME BEGINS
Current Adress: 1MystSt2kbAutJhuyA68STVJ5DKZQCq8zX
Blockchain-Link: https://blockchain.info/address/1MystSt2kbAutJhuyA68STVJ5DKZQCq8zX

Sniff Sniff, I'm trying hard to smell something good, but all I can smell in here is fishy!

Scepticism is natural. But i will prove myself.

Let's hope for the good. May you prove me wrong.  :)

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Hi Evil-Knievel,

pleas ask me in a "signed message" on the blockchain. I will Refund your BTC.

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If you expose the private key, there is nothing to be brute-forced.

I think he means partially expose it. I 'm not sure though. Is he going to reveal a part of the private key for every correct answer?  :-X

Yep, that's it. Three digits for every correct answer.

You may want to add that to your op because it's kinda unclear unless you go through the example.

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@pand70

Yes, thank you.

@Evil-Knievel

I answered your Question.

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Answer: YES, Private Key: 5KZ________________ Next Question: 0.0003 BTC

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I'm seriously considering launching a taint analysis service for bitcointalk accounts, lol.

Answer: No, Private Key: 5KZ________________ , Next Question: 0.00045

We have an escrow. The user 'Akka' will get the solution and the private key to monitor the game and my answers + the private key.

Just a question, who is the escrow?
I'd suggest TC or DannyHamilton or something like that, if it's someone that only you Germans know, I'm not confortable giving btc to a newbie, I don't care how many accounts you have. 

Hi monbux,

i can understand you. But  I need also trust in the escrow.

Akka is a member since june 15th, 2012 and has Hero status. He has a lot of good feedback in doing escrow.
Akka was also at "Galileo", a popular german tv show. It was a report about bitcoin, he gave an interview.
Link: http://www.prosieben.de/tv/galileo/videos/5109-bitcoins-clip.  Skip to minute 2:10.

I think he is the man.

Is it clothing?

It's a condom, duh.

You know the rules  ;D

Hi,

Sat0shiSecret has send me the private key and the answer.

I can confirm the Priv. Key is fitting to the address 1MystSt2kbAutJhuyA68STVJ5DKZQCq8zX and that all Parts revealed so far (see here (https://109.201.133.195/index.php?topic=352092.msg3783842#msg3783842)) are fitting to the private key.

Also, may I suggest that you add all parts already posted in the other Board, if you are running this on multiple boards?

As the Key will be revealed step by step, there is no way for me to prof who will have gotten the treasure and that everything was fair if the Coins just disappear at some point.

You're right. I will expand the FAQ with the concerns of the german users tomorrow.

to all User:

Yes, the Pot may disappear at some point. But only if nobody cracks the puzzle. In this case, there need to be 15 YES-Answers. That equals 45 digits (of 51) of the private key. With only 6 digits missing, crackers need few hours. But 9 digits are impossible.

And 15-Yes answers is a lot. You can easily limit the amount of solutions with only one question.

This is fun just to watch.  Reminds me of The Hobbit

So what's up. Are there any new questions? Where do we follow the progress of this quiz?

Hi pand,

you can follow the progress on the blockchain.info. Every out-going transaction is an answer: https://blockchain.info/address/1MystSt2kbAutJhuyA68STVJ5DKZQCq8zX

As you see, there are no participants.
I am thinking of reducing the costs per question.  In that case, the pot will be smaller but hopefully more participants. I am also thinking about a free "promo puzzle" with a little amount of BTC to win.

On weekend I have time to reconsider the gameplay. Stay tuned!

Interesting puzzle, will be fun to watch the progress.

It would also be nice if the transaction fees were eliminated from the game, but that may be difficult to achieve.

I think the puzzle idea is great, you have only to reduce the cost (also you can make a proper answer cost more than a generic question)

Thank you.
Yes, I also realized that the costs are too high. But this puzzle will continue as it is.

The next "open-puzzle" will be a little bit different. At the moment I'm looking for qualified user to join a "closed-puzzle" with new rules. I hope it would be better.

Hi guys!

This puzzle keeps popping up in my mind all morning...
I think i have a clear idea on what it is
Let we verify whether you can actually buy this "thing" on Amazon first
and MAY BE i will have a go later on
(If I get this wrong, stakes will be higher for everyone, so will be careful)

:-\

Hi medUSA,

I already answered the question. You can definitively buy it on Amazon.   
You can follow every question/answer at: https://blockchain.info/address/1MystSt2kbAutJhuyA68STVJ5DKZQCq8zX. Every out-going-transaction is a answer :).


@all

Update:
I need more qualified user, so i decided to set up a free puzzle again (0.025 BTC). Like this: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=368803.0
This time every member (with a regestration before october 2013) can participate. Except user: medUSA, phantastisch and akka. The winner gets the pot.

I think it will start tomorrow, stay tuned!

Took a leap of faith and sent my guess to the puzzle address... fingers crossed  ::)

Answer: No, Private Key: 5KZ________________ , Next Question: 0.000675

An air-conditioner is a nice suggestion though.
Your adress: 14aBreoqgED3vfrtfkqYMDDgTKWwvCTPmf

Please write down your adress into your forum post, so I can identify you :).

EDIT:
@all

This puzzle doesn't require waiting time after a NO-answer

Oh well, too bad, I thought my guess fits nicely with the clue :-[
The difficult part of puzzle is to fit the phrase "all day long"

I took a different direction this time...
Instead of something that makes you comfortable with it
this is something that makes you uncomfortable without it
:)

Smart!

But the answer water and food is wrong.

Answer: No, Private Key: 5KZ________________ , Next Question: 0.001012 BTC

:o Oh dear, running out of ideas...

Is a kind of drink?

guys, QUITE A FEW people use it!

I believe not underwear, I think it is a bathing suit and jacket?

I believe I have over-thought it too much, it is simply a ...
(Just got out of one, and will feel refreshed all day long)  ;)

Address: 14aBreoqgED3vfrtfkqYMDDgTKWwvCTPmf
https://blockchain.info/tx/c316ccb9520b932ddc8c60c07cae4a2a33c35855ac82f71444817c15092de208

Answer: No, Private Key: 5KZ________________ , Next Question: 0.001518 BTC

You'll need more information about that thing I guess :).

:-[ I guess so...
but a "yes" question costs too much :D

I know, the next puzzle will be cheaper.

By the way: The rules for this puzzle doesn't say you can ask "Negation-Questions".

For example: Can't you buy it on amazon?
Answer: NO, next question: +50%.

I know I should have asked questions, but it seems that I don't need one, but a few questions to narrow down to a meaningful direction. I rather have another attempt at the answerM D 5  hash of my email address 8ec09f7ae53f61c8d7245376fec74e84

let's hope  ::)

Answer: No, Private Key: 5KZ________________ , Next Question: 0.002277 BTC

I think this puzzle will be ended by "last-question-wins".

Only two days left! The rule says: "Last-question-wins".

medUSA has good chance to win 0.2529 BTC, currently.

QUITE A FEW, guys!
You thought that quite a few people use a toilet or clothes? Or water and food?

If it was cheaper i would say "contact lenses", if someone want to try...

Tried a question to see if I can narrow it down.

Address: 1Bp9Zw8rkfdAHbT1ENu3iLFPVmwrHtbNVx
https://blockchain.info/tx/b14478abc4357b6ecde326b17b6b1220ee259b656715aa2f234be2181aa02a0e

Answer: YES, Private Key: 5KZ4yY________________ , Next Question: 0.004554 BTC

Does it use any form of electricity?

address: 12t71ZK6VCtBHJAQtd1YzpNSg2A95xtKfx

I added the question to the note but I don't see it added to the transaction yet.

I will refund your btc. Please try again. I recommend the blockchain.info wallet.

Less than one hour left! The last valid question that appears before 03:00 PM on blockchain.info wins. At the moment it is user 'Light'.

Congratulations medUSA! I will send you the BTC per transaction. Send me an adress. After that, I will expose the private key.

The solution is: Flatiron or iron.

Thanks to the participants. A new puzzle will start soon, and will be much cheaper!

Thanks, Sat0shiSecret! Will send you a message later on.


:o Speechless....

(I would never have guessed it even if you give me 20 free questions  :D)

I admit, that was a hard one :D.

If I may state something, having a rule that states that the last person simply to ask a question wins is not particularly "fair" as it doesn't provide all players the opportunity to actually get a reply in (e.g people in different timezones who may be asleep). You may wish to revise this rule in later games and find some other method of distributing when the timer ends.