This Gaming Event Offers Players a 1 Bitcoin Prize Pool

Besides their first real-life Bitcoin get-together in over a year, 12,000 bitcoiners attending the Bitcoin 2021 Conference in Miami this week can look forward to a weekend filled with games and a prize pool of 1 bitcoin, worth just under $39,000 at press time.

Hosted by gaming startup ZEBEDEE, which has made a name for itself in the wider Bitcoin space for its work on driving the adoption of Bitcoin in gaming, the MintGox Esports Arena is set to become the stage for various Bitcoin games on June 4th and 5th — both onsite in Miami and virtually for gamers looking to join from their homes. The self-proclaimed "largest Bitcoin-powered esports event" will feature game showcases and around-the-clock gaming opportunities for virtual and real-life visitors.

As its main events, the MintGox Esports Arena will host two tournaments, the winner of each will go home with a 0.5 bitcoin prize, sponsored by crypto exchange Bitstamp and research firm L’Atelier BNP Paribas.

ZEBEDEE's Bitcoin Rally, a racing game reminiscent of Mario Kart in which players collect sats on the track, is the centerpiece of the final round of the L'Atelier Bitcoin Rally Championship and will see 12 participants race for the grand prize.

For those more into the top league of high-grossing game titles, a second tournament awaits: this one will be carried out via Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, a popular esports title and part of one of the most influential first-person shooter franchises in gaming history. Using ZEBEDEE's recently released feature Infuse, CS:GO can be integrated with Bitcoin to pay players in sats for each kill achieved in-game.

Desiree Dickerson, VP of Business Operations at Lightning Labs and co-founder of gaming platform MintGox, which has lent its name to the gaming arena, sees more in the gaming collaboration than just entertainment. "Gaming has the potential to onboard the masses to Bitcoin. Allowing users to learn about Bitcoin by playing video games, and earning at the same time, is one of the most powerful tools for adoption," Dickerson said.

This is exactly what the Lightning Network was made for and the fit is simply perfect. This is how we will bring Bitcoin to the next billion people. 

Desiree Dickerson