NAME:
CYPHERPUNKS MAILING LIST PUZZLE
CONTEXT:
21 Limited Edition Collectibles | 1,500-Piece Hand Screen-Printed Puzzle | 2024–2026
STORY:
The history of the cypherpunk movement is like a puzzle. Individual ideas, discoveries, and people gradually came together, laying the foundations for Bitcoin.
At the center of this story is Satoshi Nakamoto, the anonymous creator of Bitcoin, surrounded by 28 pioneers of cryptography, privacy, and digital freedom.
Originally created in 2024 as an illustration for the book Smashtoshi, the artwork evolved into a limited edition of 21 collectible puzzle sets.
The collage combines AI-generated portraits inspired by historical photographs, traditional engraving aesthetics, and analog Gelli printing. Each element was physically printed, scanned, and digitally assembled before the final composition was separated into nine colors for screen printing.
From Artwork to Puzzle
What began as an experimental 196-piece puzzle eventually became a much more ambitious project.
After extensive experimentation with the original plotter-cut version, I decided to completely rework the production process.
The final artwork was hand screen-printed in nine acrylic colors onto glossy coated paper, mounted onto professional puzzle board, and precision die-cut using industrial puzzle manufacturing equipment.
The result is a 60 × 80 cm artwork consisting of 1,500 precisely cut pieces, combining the character of a handmade screen print with the accuracy of industrial production.
And with 1,500 pieces, assembling the history of the cypherpunk movement is now a serious challenge.
The Collectible Set
Each of the 21 individually numbered sets includes:
1,500-piece puzzle: Nine-color hand screen print, mounted on puzzle board and industrially die-cut
Double-sided screen-printed poster: The complete artwork on one side and detailed information about the cypherpunk pioneers and historical references on the other
Custom collectible box: Screen-printed, individually numbered packaging
Digital Certificate of Authenticity: Issued through Verisart and recorded on the Bitcoin blockchain, with photographic documentation of the complete set
Discover the Full Story
Explore the creative process, the history of the Cypherpunks Mailing List, and the 28 pioneers featured in the artwork.
Read the full story on martin-fischer.cz
DOCUMENTARY:
TECHNICAL DETAILS:
PUZZLE
Technique: Hand-pulled screen print, 9 acrylic colors
Size: 80 × 60 cm (31.5 × 23.6 inches)
Material: Glossy coated paper mounted on puzzle board
Cutting: Professional industrial die-cutting
Pieces: 1,500
POSTER
Technique: Double-sided screen printing, 9/1 colors
Size: 50 × 63 cm (19.7 × 24.8 inches)
Paper: Glossy coated paper, 200 g/m²
COLLECTIBLE BOX
Technique: Screen printing, 2/2 colors
Size: 34 × 27 × 9 cm (13.4 × 10.6 × 3.5 inches)
Individually numbered
EDITION
Limited edition: 21 collectible sets
Artist proofs: 2
Signed and numbered
Certificate of Authenticity: Verisart
Created and screen-printed in Prague, Czech Republic
2024–2026
