13/01/2026
🪙Bitcoin’s block 666,666✝️
The Most Famous Biblical Embed: Block 666,666 (January 18, 2021)
This block gained massive attention for its symbolic “number of the beast” height (666 doubled, from Revelation in the Bible) combined with an uplifting counter-message.
• Embedded message (via OP_RETURN in a transaction):
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good - Romans 12:21”
The sender cleverly used vanity addresses starting with 1GoD (God) and 1BibLE (Bible), paid high fees (~$50+) to ensure inclusion in that exact block, and turned the “evil” symbolism into a positive Christian statement about overcoming negativity with goodness.
Bitcoin’s blockchain is famous for allowing users to embed permanent, immutable messages through mechanisms like the coinbase field (in the block header) or OP_RETURN outputs in transactions. These have included headlines, memes, protests, and — in rare cases — religious or biblical content.
The Genesis Block (Block 0) – The Foundational Message
Mined by Satoshi Nakamoto on January 3, 2009, this is Bitcoin’s very first block and the birth of the entire network.
• Embedded message (in the coinbase data):
“The Times 03/Jan/2009 Chancellor on brink of second bailout for banks”
This is a direct reference to a headline from The Times newspaper, highlighting the 2008 financial crisis and government bailouts. It’s widely seen as Satoshi’s critique of centralized banking, fiat money instability, and the need for a decentralized alternative. The message serves as both a timestamp (proving the block wasn’t pre-mined) and a philosophical “manifesto” for Bitcoin’s purpose.
The 50 BTC block reward in this block is famously unspendable due to how the genesis transaction was coded — adding to its mythical status. It’s often called the “Genesis” block with biblical undertones of creation and a new beginning.