One of Bitcoin’s most iconic artifacts—a faucet that once handed out free BTC—is set to return, rekindling a piece of crypto history that helped onboard thousands during the network’s earliest days.
Charlie Shrem, a pioneering Bitcoin developer and entrepreneur, teased the revival of the legendary Bitcoin Faucet on Monday. He posted a link to a familiar-looking webpage modeled after the original faucet created by Gavin Andresen in 2010.
At the time, users could claim 5 BTC for free simply by solving a CAPTCHA—a gesture intended to grow the fledgling Bitcoin network. Back then, 5 BTC was worth less than a penny. Today, each of those giveaways would be valued at nearly $500,000.
The new version of the faucet is not yet fully operational. As of early Monday U.S. hours, the site holds no bitcoin and does not appear to be distributing rewards.
A Humble Start with Massive Impact
Gavin Andresen’s faucet was funded with 1,100 BTC—worth just a few dollars at the time—and served as a key onboarding tool during a period when mining and purchasing bitcoin were far more technical and less accessible. The goal was simple: give people a taste of Bitcoin and help grow the network organically.
The strategy worked. Thousands of curious users received their first BTC through the faucet, many unaware they were claiming what would become small fortunes in the years to come.
Although the faucet’s payouts eventually shrank to tiny fractions of a bitcoin and the project was sunset, its influence on the early Bitcoin community remains legendary. With BTC prices now orders of magnitude higher, the potential reboot is sparking nostalgia—and speculation.
It remains to be seen whether the faucet will distribute bitcoin again or simply serve as a tribute to its roots. But for longtime Bitcoiners, its return marks a sentimental nod to the era when BTC flowed freely—and the future was still wide open.
