On May 6, 2025, Charlie Shrem – a well-known figure in the Bitcoin community – announced the launch of 21million.com, a Bitcoin faucet aimed at distributing small amounts of BTC to users who complete simple CAPTCHA tasks. However, currently, no BTC is being awarded. Will this project be able to replicate the success of the first faucet? Let's analyze in detail.
21million.com: Starting from an Old Idea
Charlie Shrem, a long-time Bitcoin advocate, launched 21million.com, inspired by the first Bitcoin faucet created by Gavin Andresen in 2010. Andresen's faucet once distributed 5 BTC per instance, totaling 19,700 BTC – equivalent to $1.86 billion at current prices (when Bitcoin trades around $94,000). Shrem tweeted on Monday: 'Working to relaunch the Bitcoin faucet,' with a classic minimalist design that includes CAPTCHA and an address input box $BTC , identical to the original faucet.
Challenge: No BTC Available for Distribution
However, as of May 5, 2025, 21million.com is still not active. Multiple attempts to interact have not yielded any BTC rewards. Shrem describes the project as 'vibe coded' – using AI to develop software without traditional coding, a new trend in programming as AI builds applications according to guidelines. He calls this 'interesting,' although specific progress remains unclear. Shrem has not responded to requests for comment from Decrypt or anyone on Crypto Twitter.
Community Support and Economic Challenges
Some community members, such as @BitsBeTrippin, have suggested donating BTC to support the faucet, showing initial support. However, with the current price of Bitcoin, distributing free BTC has become less feasible compared to 2010 when 5 BTC was almost worthless. Today, that same amount is worth about $500,000, raising questions about the financial sustainability of the project.
Impact on the Crypto Market
This project provides many signals:
Raising Awareness: #Faucet can spark interest in Bitcoin ($94,000, preparing to reach $120,000), especially as the Bitcoin ETF attracted $1.8 billion last week.
Financial Challenge: Dependence on donations or large funding sources may limit scale, affecting similar projects like Notcoin (shifting to Web3 gaming).
Driving Technology: Using AI in development reflects innovation trends, supporting ecosystems like Tether AI (integrating Bitcoin-USDT).
Future Prospects
Although it has not yet distributed BTC, 21million.com has potential if it receives community support and sustainable financial solutions. With crypto fund flows reaching $3.4 billion last week and the development of DeFi, faucets can play a small but meaningful role in promoting Bitcoin in the next 1-2 years.
Conclusion: Will 21million.com Successfully Distribute BTC?
Charlie Shrem launched 21million.com as a new Bitcoin faucet, inspired by Gavin Andresen, but currently has not distributed BTC due to inactivity. With AI design and community support, the project has potential if it overcomes financial challenges. In a vibrant market context, this could be an exciting starting point. Investors should closely monitor to assess prospects.
Risk Warning: Crypto investment carries high risks due to price volatility and legal uncertainties. Please consider carefully before participating.