Standards
A museum’s credibility rests less on what it exhibits than on what it declines to exhibit.
BTC.com is a neutral, non-commercial online museum of Bitcoin and the blockchain: not a media outlet, not a price site, but a public archive of Bitcoin knowledge, serving researchers, media, policymakers and the public worldwide. The collection displays only verifiable facts and primary documents. Where a question has multiple positions, we set out each side’s arguments at equal standing, and the museum does not adjudicate.
① We aim to trace every fact on display to a public, verifiable source.
② On contested questions we present each side at equal standing; the museum does not rule.
③ Facts in the collection and signed opinion are shown separately.
Content Modules & Acquisition Thresholds
highest bar to lowestThe Four Modules
The site’s content divides into four modules, from the highest acquisition bar to the lowest: permanent halls > special exhibitions > Library > blog.
Permanent Halls (five acts)
The most selective narrative and interactive experience; only the most representative originals, images and interactive exhibits.
Special Exhibitions
Temporary shows mounted for particular occasions; when one closes, the best material is selected into the permanent halls or the Library. This module opens as curatorial occasion arises, and is not open at present.
The Library
A researcher’s catalog of primary documents; admits work with a degree of citation, scholarly value and recognized standing in the field.
Blog
Author submissions published after editorial review, on a journal-like basis; neutrality and traceable sourcing suffice.
The four modules are linked by one path: author submissions are published on the blog after editorial review; blog pieces that are widely cited or recognized may be added to the Library; the most foundational originals in the Library may become headline exhibits in the halls; and when a special exhibition closes, selected material moves into the permanent halls or the Library.
The same item can appear in several places, presented differently in each: the whitepaper is a catalog entry in the Library and a passage-by-passage interactive exhibit in the halls.
Acquisition Standards for Hall Exhibits
two tests for third-party materialTwo Categories, Two Standards
The halls carry the highest bar of the four modules. Exhibits fall into two categories, judged differently.
Original exhibits
Overview animations, the journey of a transaction, the AMM and gas interactives, data visualizations: interactive experiences produced in-house and unique to the halls. Original exhibits go live only when complete and usable; where live data is involved, the data source and timestamp are stated.
Third-party exhibits
Artwork, historical imagery and photo collections of facilities. Before going live, these should in principle pass both tests below.
Traceable provenance
We aim to establish provenance — original source link, author and first place of publication.
Curatorial standard met
Each item should be representative and, where possible, come with curatorial notes — about the maker, its provenance and its meaning — rather than images shown in bulk.
Bulk, collection-grade material (large runs of hardware models, art compilations, generic illustration) is not shown as a main exhibit in the halls — it is cataloged in the Library, or used only as supporting illustration. The halls stay small and selective.
Contributors & Governance
attribution, accountability, correctionsThe Contributors We Are Inviting
We are inviting scholars and senior researchers worldwide who study the ideas, economics, technology and history of Bitcoin and blockchain to become the museum’s first signed contributors and to help draft its governance principles. Crypto-industry and financial media with a sustained record of neutral, professional work are also being invited.
Scholars and senior researchers
Writing guest original essays and taking part in establishing and revising the governance principles. Bylines and institutional affiliations are disclosed.
Document authors
We hope to invite the authors of documents in our collection to take part in oral-history interviews and special exhibitions; progress will be announced once confirmed.
Neutral, professional media
Crypto-industry and financial media with a sustained record of neutrality and professional standards, participating in content development and fact-checking.
Guest authors
Anyone may submit to the blog. Pieces are published after editorial review for neutrality and traceable sourcing; those that gain recognition may be promoted to the Library.
Errata & Feedback
We put the possibility of error in plain sight: an institution that displays only verifiable facts must make the route to correcting them equally public.