Ethereum community plans onchain ‘time capsule’ to mark 10th anniversary of network’s genesis block

A community-led Ethereum group launched an onchain “time capsule” Monday, inviting users to lock art, memories, messages, and predictions inside encrypted smart contracts until the network’s 11th anniversary next year.The capsule, unveiled at the Ethereum Community Conference (EthCC) and backed by the Protocol Guild and Shutter Network, allows anyone to submit a file for about $2.50 in ETH. All proceeds will be donated to the Protocol Guild to support core research. Shutter’s threshold encryption will keep entries sealed starting July 30 and be opened a year later (on the 11th anniversary), when the contract will decrypt each file and store it permanently on Ethereum’s ledger.“Celebrating our history nurtures Ethereum’s culture and values,” said Jérôme de Tychey, president of Ethereum-France and founder of EthCC. Protocol Guild contributor “Cheeky Gorilla” called the capsule a chance to “reflect on progress as we gear up for the next decade.”Vitalik Buterin published Ethereum’s whitepaper in 2013, envisioning a programmable blockchain that differed from Bitcoin and would power a new age of onchain finance. The network went live in July 2015 following an initial public offering and now ranks as crypto’s second-largest chain, with a market cap of nearly $300 billion, according to The Block’s data.Disclaimer: The Block is an independent media outlet that delivers news, research, and data. As of November 2023, Foresight Ventures is a majority investor of The Block. Foresight Ventures invests in other companies in the crypto space. Crypto exchange Bitget is an anchor LP for Foresight Ventures. The Block continues to operate independently to deliver objective, impactful, and timely information about the crypto industry. Here are our current financial disclosures.© 2025 The Block. All Rights Reserved. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.