Bitcoin MENA 2025 will spotlight cultural preservation, artistic collaboration, and educational outreach, with the centerpiece of the program being the exhibition and auction of The History of Bitcoin: First Edition. The museum-grade, one-of-one fine-art volume has rapidly gained recognition as one of the most meaningful physical artifacts in Bitcoin’s cultural canon.
Created over four years by 128 artists across 37 countries, the 256-page book traces Bitcoin’s journey from its cypherpunk roots to its emergence as a global technological and cultural force. Its page count pays homage to Bitcoin’s SHA-256 cryptographic base, while more than 40 advanced printmaking methods were employed in its production.
Housed in a collector’s box crafted from 5,000-year-old fossilized black oak and bound in bull leather with a custom Asprey Studio silver emblem, the First Edition ties Bitcoin’s digital genesis to an enduring physical form intended to last for generations.
Auction supports global Bitcoin education efforts
The First Edition is the headline item on Scarce.City’s online auction, held in support of Bitcoin MENA. The book has toured major global venues—including London, Bitcoin Amsterdam, Pubkey in New York, and Dubai’s Mondoir Gallery and will conclude its tour in Abu Dhabi on December 8 inside the Bitcoin MENA Art Gallery, displayed within a dedicated multi-wall installation.
Smashtoshi, the collective behind the project, has committed 79% of all auction revenue to My First Bitcoin, a leading nonprofit focused on community-driven Bitcoin education. The remaining 21% will be distributed to the 128 artists whose works appear in the book.
My First Bitcoin aims to deliver accessible Bitcoin education to more than 200 million people worldwide, with structured programs already expanding across Latin America and rapidly growing in other regions. Buying the First Edition is a way for collectors to get a rare cultural artefact and directly support global Bitcoin education programs.
The main event of Bitcoin MENA’s cultural program
The First Edition will be the main part of the overall art show at Bitcoin MENA. The installation will include some of the book’s best works, projected images, study volumes that go along with the book, and live coverage of the auction as it happens.