Creating the first and most watched introduction video for Bitcoin

In 2011, the Bitcoin community held a competition to create the best video explaining and promoting this then-unknown technology. Stefan Thomas and I participated and won the competition. Little did I know that Bitcoin would become such a phenomenon just a few years later.

Contribution

Script and storyboard
Illustrations and motion design
Project management

Credits

Script & idea by Stefan Thomas
Voice over by Chris Rice
Sound design by Christian Barth, Andrew Mottl

Script, storyboard, animatic

We started the project by doing research on Bitcoin. Luckily Stefan was deeply familiar with the topic, so I was able to pick his brain to write the script. With the script in good shape I created a rough storyboard. Recorded a temporary voice over and made a quick animatic.

Script, storyboard, animatic

Illustrations

Once the timing of the animatic worked I created the final graphics for the clip

Illustrations

Once the timing of the animatic worked I created the final graphics for the clip

Animating

I imported all the graphics into After Effects and animated them. For the final clip, I collaborated with a professional voice actor to record the voiceover and engaged Christian Barth for the sound design.

Animating

Final videos

After Bitcoin gained popularity, I updated the video with some slight modifications. Additionally, I created a follow-up video focusing on Bitcoin mining.

Final videos

After Bitcoin gained popularity, I updated the video with some slight modifications. Additionally, I created a follow-up video focusing on Bitcoin mining.

Fun facts

The video played a crucial role in raising awareness and understanding of Bitcoin during its early stages.
Its impact on the adoption and growth of the Bitcoin ecosystem has been widely recognized.
The video has inspired subsequent explainer videos and educational resources on Bitcoin and cryptocurrency-related topics.

Fun facts

Views on Youtube

What is Bitcoin (v1): Over 10 Million  
What is Bitcoin (v2): Over 7 Million  
What is Bitcoin Mining: Over 7 Million

Contact — fabian@fruehle.com

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