BIT / History of bitcoin
Brand Development
Creative Direction
Artwork Concept
Graphic Design
Project Management
Video & Animation
Web Design
Fullstack Web Development
Ecommerce Development
Art Curation
3D Illustration
Three years in the making, turning an ambitious idea into a cultural artefact
KISSLabs was responsible for the creation of two brands: Smashtoshi, a collective of creative disruptors, including artists, researchers, authors, jewellers, historians – and BIT, their inaugural project that would tell the story of Bitcoin’s history through a website and an extremely limited edition luxury book.
The first edition book sits in a unique 5,000-year-old fossilised black oak – England’s rarest native hardwood, mechanical case with titanium detailing. At the heart of the book lies a silver BIT ‘coin’, hand-crafted by the expert jewellers at Asprey’s of London.
Over three years in the making
We immersed ourselves in deep research, mapping 128 pivotal moments in Bitcoin’s history. To be relevant BIT had to go beyond technical milestones and specifications, it needed to reflect the human stories and cultural context that shaped Bitcoin into what it is today. We explored motives and personalities, the political climate, shifts in music, and fashion and the wider landscape that surrounded each breakthrough.
Bitcoin has always drawn people in search of deeper meaning, and our role was to make that cultural richness visible. The result is a tangible cultural ledger, layered with meaning and scattered with easter eggs for the curious and attentive.
The 2020 doco NFT:WTF features a prototype of BIT
BIT is both artefact and narrative – preserving the milestones, myths, and meaning that define Bitcoin’s cultural journey.
Building anticipation
While we were building out the project we created a teaser website to help share our vision with the collector base. During these early days the digital art world was growing rapidly. It moved from the NFT hype to a place where digital artists were taken seriously.
As the project was still in its infancy and its final form was still being defined, we leveraged our 3D chops and animation skills to bring our vision to life so collectors and sponsors could see what the future looked like.
BIT is more than an art project or history book. It is designed to be discovered, debated and displayed. BIT is a book that’s as much a cultural artifact as it’s a record of history.
Revelations: The companion edition
We were not just satisfied with designing a single book – so we also created BIT’s companion volume: Revelations. This pocket-sized softbound book serves as a guide to the stories, symbols and protocols that shaped Bitcoin’s most pivotal moments. Mirroring the rich content from the website Revelations offers readers a way to explore Bitcoin’s history in greater depth. First-hand commentary from key figures provides context to the art, connecting protocol with philosophy and data with meaning. Smaller in scale yet timeless in feel, Revelations is designed to be held close, read slowly, and returned to often. From block data to cultural shifts, Revelations connects the dots, offering a deeper understanding of Bitcoin’s evolution.
The design of cryptography
From the outset, every decision in this project was guided by Bitcoin and its cryptographic foundations. The book’s 70cm x 35cm format reflects the powers of two that underpin digital security.
Archival-grade paper ensures permanence, while the orange bull leather, a nod to Bitcoin’s own language of being “bullish” – secures the binding. Premium foiling and finishes elevated each spread into something closer to a gallery wall than a printed page.
And the heirloom case, crafted from 5,000-year-old fossilised black oak, England’s rarest native hardwood, speaks to endurance and rarity, while the custom stand, etched with Bitcoin's whitepaper, anchors the work in its origins.
BIT is more than an art project or history book. It is designed to be discovered, debated and displayed. BIT is a book that’s as much a cultural artifact as it’s a record of history.
Building a community
BIT is a testament to the symphony of a collective of more than 120 incredible artists. We had a dream to foster a community spirit around this ground-breaking project with the creation of something unexpected and lasting, and to create a sense of connection amongst the creators.
Each challenge coin is unique to the artist and celebrates the artist’s unique contributions alongside the rest of collective, forming a tangible connection to the collective masterpiece they've created. These coins don't merely mark a moment; they inspire a legacy, fostering a sense of pride and belonging, reminding each artist that together they are not just charting history but pioneering into its future.
