Shortly after minting my first NFTs on SuperRare, I discovered KnownOrigin—another pioneering platform that was shaping the early crypto art landscape. KnownOrigin offered a different flavor of the NFT experience with its edition-based model, allowing me to create works in limited runs rather than single 1/1 pieces. Between September 2019 and April 2021, I created 27 distinctive works on the platform, each exploring different facets of the Bitcoin narrative.
A Platform for Editioned Works
While SuperRare focused on unique 1/1 pieces, KnownOrigin allowed artists to mint editions—multiple copies of the same artwork. This model was perfect for pieces that I wanted to reach a broader audience while still maintaining scarcity. The platform became an important canvas for my most conceptual and politically-charged Bitcoin art, including international translations of my work.
The Collection (Chronological Order)
1. Dr. Satoshi's Orange Pill (September 18, 2019) – Part of my "Cure what ails you" Bitcoin art series, this piece takes inspiration from vintage pharmaceutical advertisements. Once you take the orange pill, you'll never see money the same way. Edition of 10.
2. Sound Money = Sound Mind (October 15, 2019) – Bitcoin is money created by scientists as a cure for money problems created by big banks. Edition of 21.
3. Cure what ails you (October 16, 2019) – Tired of relying on a failing banking system that destroys the value of your savings? Hate asking for permission to use your own money? Cure what ails you! Use Bitcoin. Edition of 5.
4. 2.1 Quadrillion Satoshis (January 14, 2020) – Inspired by the Zimbabwe 100 trillion dollar bill, this artwork features design elements including blockchain technology, genesis block code, a bear and bull, and the satoshi icon mask. A monumental example of why central banking makes the world a worse place. Edition of 21.
5. Gold with wiiings (February 2, 2020) – Bitcoin is a decentralized money system that allows users to be their own banks. Permission-less, censorship-resistant, and fast as lightning. Better Money—it's gold with wiiings. Edition of 21.
6. 中本医生的橙色药丸 (Dr. Satoshi's Orange Pill - Chinese) (February 5, 2020) – Simplified Chinese translation of Dr. Satoshi's Orange Pill, spreading the Bitcoin message to Chinese-speaking audiences. Edition of 21.
7. Decomposition & Composition of a Global Money System (February 28, 2020) – A collaborative artwork with Alex Shell combining "The Dancing Satoshi" (modeled after Shiva, the Hindu god of destruction) and "Brahma Satoshi" (the Hindu god of creation). This animation represents the Decomposition & Composition of a Global Money System. Edition of 2.
8. Pseudonymous Maskimus (March 5, 2020) – A mask can be used to hide one's identity. Bitcoin is often promoted as a tool for privacy through pseudonymous addresses. This piece explores CoinJoin and privacy in Bitcoin. Edition of 21.
9. La Pillola Arancione del Dr. Satoshi (March 6, 2020) – Italian translation by MIR. Bitcoin è denaro migliore. Edition of 4.
10. Pomarańczowa Pigułka Dr. Satoshi (March 10, 2020) – Polish translation by Felipe Kosma. Bitcoin, czyli lepszy pieniądz. Edition of 3.
11. DR. SATOSHI'NIN TURUNCU HAPI (March 13, 2020) – Turkish translation by sturec. Bitcoin daha iyi paradır. Edition of 2.
12. Fancy mask (March 20, 2020) – Satoshi Nakamoto is said to have mined up to 1 million bitcoins in 2009. As Satoshi has managed to stay successfully anonymous, he must have quite a fancy mask. Edition of 5.
13. I WANT YOU TO USE BITCOIN (March 28, 2020) – Based on the classic WWII Uncle Sam propaganda poster, Uncle Satoshi wants you to use Bitcoin! A call to join the sound money revolution and be your own bank. Edition of 21.
14. Virus en Numeros (April 6, 2020) – Tying together influences from Alex Grey's Godself, John Carpenter's They Live, and the COVID-19 pandemic. The title plays on "Vires in Numeris" (Strength in Numbers). Bitcoin spreads like a virus—each person who understands it becomes a carrier of the message. Edition of 21.
15. Big Lub (Variant #1) (April 6, 2020) – First variant of Anonymous Leader #1, exploring relationships between Bitcoin and political history. Edition of 3.
16. Satoshi's Parallel Dimension (June 20, 2020) – A darker recreation of Satoshi's Citadel artwork, inspired by the viral Bitcoin time traveler's Reddit post. The entrance fee is 6.15 BTC. Edition of 3.
17. Jamie Demon v2 (Buy Bitcoin) (July 11, 2020) – Original Jamie Demon poster redesigned with the "Banker Buddy" mask, spinning taglines from John Carpenter's They Live to deliver a message about banking industry manipulation. Edition of 3.
18. Faces of Satoshi AI study (July 28, 2020) – Animated compilation of AI-generated images using artbreeder DNA from selfies with augmented reality satoshi masks. Edition of 1.
19. One Hundred Million Satoshis (September 15, 2020) – One bitcoin will always equal one hundred million satoshis. Stack them high, keep them safe, be your own bank. Better money since 2009. Edition of 5.
20. Cure what ails you (XR) (September 18, 2020) – Dr. Satoshi's most potent orange pill, now in extended release capsules. Modeled after Adderall XR in fine detail. Edition of 3.
21. Do you still trust banks? (September 24, 2020) – Animated compilation questioning trust in traditional banking systems. Edition of 5.
22. Run on the banks (September 26, 2020) – An undead runner encounters a bag of dollars while passing the Bank for International Settlements, tosses them in the bin, and finds better money—Bitcoin. Edition of 5.
23. Revolutions of Better Money (October 1, 2020) – My first fully 3D animation, uniting the six cans from the "Bitcoin for any party" series—a play on Andy Warhol's Campbell's Soup. Edition of 3.
24. Presentations of Better Money (October 2, 2020) – Six different presentations for Bitcoin with selling points for different political affiliations across the spectrum. Edition of 3.
25. Distribution of Better Money (October 3, 2020) – The grand finale: the distribution of Better Money with a final message—Bitcoin is for everyone. Edition of 3.
26. Maschinenmensch Satoshi 3D study (November 16, 2020) – 3D model based on the Maschinenmensch from Fritz Lang's Metropolis, combined with the satoshi icon mask. An outtake from my "Citadel Paradiso" animation. Edition of 1.
27. The Power of Better Money (April 13, 2021) – Sooner or later, we all realize the power of better money. Edition of 21.
The International Reach
One of the unique aspects of my KnownOrigin collection was the international translations of "Dr. Satoshi's Orange Pill"—spreading the Bitcoin message in Chinese, Italian, Polish, and Turkish. These translations helped bridge cultural and language barriers, making Bitcoin education accessible to a global audience.
Legacy
My KnownOrigin collection represents some of my most politically-charged and conceptually ambitious work. From the "Cure what ails you" pharmaceutical series to the Andy Warhol-inspired "Better Money" cans, these pieces pushed the boundaries of what Bitcoin art could communicate about money, power, and freedom.
Dr. Satoshi's Orange Pill — Simplified Chinese.
Italian.
Turkish — three of the 13 community translations, all minted as KnownOrigin editions.
KnownOrigin shut its doors in 2024. The editions live on in collectors’ wallets — and the poster-era designs from those years live on in the Bitcoin propaganda posters.
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