Source: /cirosantilli/cool-data-embedded-in-the-bitcoin-blockchain/illegal-content-of-block-229k

= Illegal content of block 229k
{title2=2013-04-06 - 2013-04-08}

These can be viewed at https://bitcoinstrings.com/blk00052.txt[] and are mostly commented on the "Wikileaks cablegate data" section of <Hidden surprises in the Bitcoin blockchain by Ken Shirriff (2014)>.

Soon after block 229991 uploaded the <Satoshi uploader>, several interesting files were added to the blockchain using the uploader, and notably some containing content that might be <illegal> in certain <countries>, as a test to see if this type of content would make the Bitcoin blockchain illegal or not:
* https://github.com/cirosantilli/bitcoin-inscription-indexer/blob/master/data/out/0229.txt\#L241[tx 08654f9dc9d673b3527b48ad06ab1b199ad47b61fd54033af30c2ee975c588bd] block 229999 contains a leaked private key and a link to: http://threatpost.com/en_us/blogs/ami-firmware-source-codAe-private-key-leaked-040513
* https://github.com/cirosantilli/bitcoin-inscription-indexer/blob/master/data/out/0230.txt\#L1[tx b96af3b69b48a82c5eae3e44ebb6ef93f30d7764b1d5b40243e11b0d374ac1b7] block 230001 contains the link:
  \Q[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illegal_prime]
  followed presumably by one such prime starting with:
  \Q[4 85650 78965 73978 29309 84189 46942 86137 70744 20873 51357 92401 96520 73668]
  The number is quoted e.g. at: https://www.computerforum.com/threads/illegal-prime-number.67782/
  * https://github.com/cirosantilli/bitcoin-inscription-indexer/blob/master/data/out/0233.txt\#L2[tx 237783998a6799264983150187a73ab6d116f2ba78d3e1f88529e95229f59d67] https://www.blockchain.com/explorer/transactions/btc/237783998a6799264983150187a73ab6d116f2ba78d3e1f88529e95229f59d67[block 233620] contains another illegal prime starting with:
  \Q[49310 83597 02850 19002 75777 67239 07649 57284]
  This one is quoted in a few places online in blockchain illegality discussions:
  * https://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/1akyy4/comment/c8yel60 "What happens if someone inserts illegal content into the block chain?" (2013-03-19)
  * https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8055243 "Filecoin – Data storage network and crypto-currency based on Bitcoin" (2014-07-18)
* https://github.com/cirosantilli/bitcoin-inscription-indexer/blob/master/data/out/0230.txt\#L7[tx 54e48e5f5c656b26c3bca14a8c95aa583d07ebe84dde3b7dd4a78f4e4186e713] block 230009 contains the Bitcoin white paper: https://bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf More context: https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/35959/how-is-the-whitepaper-decoded-from-the-blockchain-tx-with-1000x-m-of-n-multisi
* https://github.com/cirosantilli/bitcoin-inscription-indexer/blob/master/data/out/0230.txt\#L557[tx 691dd277dc0e90a462a3d652a1171686de49cf19067cd33c7df0392833fb986a] block 230203 <Cablegate> index. The announced filename is `cablegate-201012041811.7z`. As mentioned in <Hidden surprises in the Bitcoin blockchain by Ken Shirriff (2014)>, it has an ASCII list of several other transactions, which presumably when downloaded with the <Satoshi uploader> can concatenated lead to the full 7z file. Also as mentioned by Ken, it is infinitely easier for the average user to just access the cables directly on <WikiLeaks> :-) The data is preceded by the message:
  ``
  sSEXWikileaks Cablegate Backup

  cablegate-201012041811.7z

  Download the following transactions with Satoshi Nakamoto's download tool which
  can be found in transaction 6c53cd987119ef797d5adccd76241247988a0a5ef783572a9972e7371c5fb0cc

  Free speech and free enterprise! Thank you Satoshi!
  ``
* tx dde7cd8e8f073a525c16c5ee4e4a254f847b7ad6babef257231813166fbef551 block 230229 and tx 4a0088a249e9099d205fb4760c28275d4b8965ac9fd56f5ddf6771cdb0d94f38 block 230231 contain indexes of pages from <The Hidden Wiki>. These can be viewed at: https://bitcoinstrings.com/blk00052.txt[]. Not reproduced here because we are cowards.

So basically, this was the first obviously illegal block attempt.

None of this content is particularly eye-popping for <Ciro Santilli>'s slightly crazy <freedom of speech> standards, and as of 2021, the Bitcoin blockchain likely hasn't become illegal anywhere yet due to freedom of speech concerns.

Furthermore, it is likely much easier to find much worse illegal content by browsing any <uncensored Onion service search engine> for 2 minutes.

<Ciro Santilli> estimates that perhaps the uploader didn't upload <child pornography>, which is basically the apex of illegality of this era, because they were afraid that their identities would one day be found.

Bibliography:
* https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=191039.0 "WTF - Kiddy Porn in the Blockchain for life?" (2013-04-29) on the <Bitcoin Forum>