# The 291 BTC fee

> A passage of **The βook of βitcoin** — the Bitcoin chain read as a book. This is
> block 409,008 read as a chapter, and its transaction 2
> (of 1,962) read as a section of Glossia prose. Every byte of the
> transaction is carried in the prose and decodes back out losslessly; the
> connective grammar is the translator's, the content is the chain's.

- **Citation:** II β99 ■1441 §2 (Volume II, Book 99, Chapter 1441, section 2)
- **Block:** 409,008
- **Block hash:** `0000000000000000042450ad2be4f2b6439ed39f70716a7575440d462cf165d9`
- **Transaction id:** `cc455ae816e6cdafdb58d54e35d4f46d860047458eacf1c7405dc634631c570d`
- **Read live:** https://bookofbitcoin.io/bitcoin-book.html?txid=cc455ae816e6cdafdb58d54e35d4f46d860047458eacf1c7405dc634631c570d

## Chapter frontispiece — block 409,008

Block hash, as prose: ⌘¹⁸⁷ *Abuse achieve our sleep. Labor get the flat general. Our peasant still pull to imitate. Lumber may see visual. Son develop to derive for the just mouse. Interest expand to cage per abandon.* ⓪⁶⁹

- **version:** vaccio abandon — block version 0x20000000 — BIP9 version-bits form; accio abandon — no version rolling; no soft-fork signals
- **previous block:** ⌘¹⁸⁷ Abuse see its absurd. Map include cube to joy. Attitude may see cricket. A senior oblige the airport to a rival rib. Our elegant pop slim clerk. Salt orient peace to scan. A out divorce set sir. ⓪⁶⁹
  - hex: `000000000000000005d8a1e4acef54bccca3e3569705c1ecf066ea40bcd54c0e`
- **merkle root:** ⋔ Abandon achieve hat to its exotic jungle. Sweet may identify each style. Its die is dumb. Frost try the account to carbon. Mule today pattern a tie. Pop unlock drift to quantum. Shock may set fiber per corn. Usage is rare to milk.
  - hex: `64842cdf07d32a19ebd5427057a8c6153911063c7d5d1ff235e1ba8d3c4031cd`
- **timestamp:** 2016-04-26 14:15 UTC
- **difficulty target:** β₆₉ < 403275×256²¹ — the block hash above reads below this target — nBits 1806274b — mantissa 403275 (3·5²·19·283) shifted up 21 bytes: the target 000000000000000006274b000000000000000000000000000000000000000000, which a valid block hash must read below (69 leading zero bits) — difficulty 178,678,307,672 (relative to the genesis block)
- **nonce:** η 3²·444485341

## § 2 — The 291 BTC fee

Transaction id, as prose: ⌘²⁵⁶ *Abandon are absurd to a height out shove. Shoe erase the concert. Map adapt to wreck. A pop prosper impulse. Fade get its absurd grocery to whip. Express may prefer stem for short. The typical orange gesture injury to harbor per a ridge.*

- **version:** 1
- **input 1:** spends output 0 of `3ead633462a2c980020ffae61d7ccecdc23fda54c022352ea337939da4646c37`
  - script: s⁷¹ Its abandon see the absurd forward. Debris cloud burger to melody via citizen to fiber. Token may audit cousin. The cherry cement is polar. Yes exclude tribe to our cycle per venue. Each window high set our morning december. Its sick jewel coin buffalo to rail via kingdom. Tea melt embrace to genius. Some energy is quick out some peasant. Few cost ensure gap to unit. Sin may confirm its exotic label. Kangaroo crunch force to festival. Source far gasp its ear. p³³ A cut about see absurd. The bleak twist may flavor shift. Nod might enrich fossil to detail. Law may set soccer. Its angry furnace shrug dress. Mountain also wire our cake. Movie may impose aim. A hood is thought. A mixed yes decorate pie.
  - sequence: ● — final — disables the transaction locktime for this input
- **input 2:** spends output 0 of `1f33147589e8475552084731e4ac4f4bc69dcf8cb05b27e3078e1c22aaccb34e`
  - script: s⁷¹ Abandon may set accident. Outside shall light carpet. A vacant gaze okay pluck some oval. Its brass record may kit pass to sky. A tea is harsh. An unable ocean smoke exercise. Bronze list kitten to shaft. Son expose rhythm per bind. Cactus why gesture hint. The ready fan may unlock. Fyi off set hello. A tattoo sure make our sir. Cow reflect to absent. Lizard weekend fabric via valve out carbon for topic. Treat stem a galaxy. The out parent is hot. p³³ A cut about see absurd. The bleak twist may flavor shift. Nod might enrich fossil to detail. Law may set soccer. Its angry furnace shrug dress. Mountain also wire our cake. Movie may impose aim. A hood is thought. A mixed yes decorate pie.
  - sequence: ● — final — disables the transaction locktime for this input
- **input 3:** spends output 0 of `82f509dba8e0ecb2a507d3f3ab198b69c66e7e20bfb5bb1b20b6c2f5011b80cc`
  - script: s⁷¹ Abandon may get accident. The entire strike see jungle. Two alter to relax. An unable goat see lab via weapon. Cheese may walk a secret maple. Panther apart get our awkward release. Its shed may set bread. Pay thrive the crucial solution. Health set turkey to net per umbrella to mandate for hockey. Eye see choice to ocean. Reform set a low industry. The loud upset may deny skate to coyote. Few red may become cabbage via salt. A diesel horse not permit lens. p³³ A cut about see absurd. The bleak twist may flavor shift. Nod might enrich fossil to detail. Law may set soccer. Its angry furnace shrug dress. Mountain also wire our cake. Movie may impose aim. A hood is thought. A mixed yes decorate pie.
  - sequence: ● — final — disables the transaction locktime for this input
- **input 4:** spends output 1 of `087a28fdfd8ca5125b024247a35bc6a91d6f47ee0eb2e98e802f929b99096395`
  - script: s⁷¹ Abandon set accident to our cake. Atom may cry cigar out guilt. Each basket damage bet. An unusual guilt set the aware struggle to a boss scan. Eagle cross crystal to dice. Fruit get illness out secret. Our elite kiss narrow a fatal slam. Our stumble may develop pelican to maple. The typical pear stick rhythm. Flock may engage hurry. Pay might vanish soul. A little soup topple length. Combine pilot a logic. Tax may get our aware parent to due. p³³ A cut about see absurd. The bleak twist may flavor shift. Nod might enrich fossil to detail. Law may set soccer. Its angry furnace shrug dress. Mountain also wire our cake. Movie may impose aim. A hood is thought. A mixed yes decorate pie.
  - sequence: ● — final — disables the transaction locktime for this input
- **input 5:** spends output 1 of `1c82cd190750c0b6fa7d8bba4f752468954f455cd20c4e06ed5cd155deb8974d`
  - script: s⁷² Abandon account candy to poem. Error rent coyote out a cereal demand. Purse cage invite to scissors. The smart host get above. Robot render host to kick. Tank get a chaos. Bunker punch to seek. The low card may see its member out lap. Sir may arrange our fatal puzzle. Clip dress mix to soda. Pill see our unaware ivory. Ring submit foot to road. Zone may inhale coyote. Donor is mother to lab via the damage. Cop then get fyi. p³³ A cut about see absurd. The bleak twist may flavor shift. Nod might enrich fossil to detail. Law may set soccer. Its angry furnace shrug dress. Mountain also wire our cake. Movie may impose aim. A hood is thought. A mixed yes decorate pie.
  - sequence: ● — final — disables the transaction locktime for this input
- **input 6:** spends output 1 of `f52cf9c163916311036c30c406c3fbe77973f4f9462f66dd56ac39f13a5131a9`
  - script: s⁷² Abandon accuse blast to pole out balcony to private. Our supreme spray issue dynamic. A work butter to give. Sun are young via inch for its march. Owner see orchard to a sound rifle. Rice grit pottery to spare. Cow embark to practice. A bitter corn may task coast. Each yes rely paper to blast. The inch is pop for squeeze out turn. The tax apart set cereal. Noodle fall its youth lot. Pop inherit matrix to family. Creek only input parent. p³³ A cut about see absurd. The bleak twist may flavor shift. Nod might enrich fossil to detail. Law may set soccer. Its angry furnace shrug dress. Mountain also wire our cake. Movie may impose aim. A hood is thought. A mixed yes decorate pie.
  - sequence: ● — final — disables the transaction locktime for this input
- **input 7:** spends output 1 of `f7a417287b7f71518614ad870dde3e4cfd9d12d6eb3a3978a8e28dd77a6d1f28`
  - script: s⁷² An abandon accuse to connect. Our crush set maximum. Tape may see glass to surge. Its thunder calm worry. Ceiling divide note to middle. Tribe get our basic twenty per book. Anger filter to enhance via the bounce to our endless tag. Curve may boil to danger. Its proud cube fan siren. Sister wash wealth to flash via shift. Duty announce torch to blouse. Fix see twenty via our immune wear. The ear under set movie. Some area get lens to the pop. p³³ A cut about see absurd. The bleak twist may flavor shift. Nod might enrich fossil to detail. Law may set soccer. Its angry furnace shrug dress. Mountain also wire our cake. Movie may impose aim. A hood is thought. A mixed yes decorate pie.
  - sequence: ● — final — disables the transaction locktime for this input
- **input 8:** spends output 1 of `ee39092d19b592aebcc90bfdcd5a2ba0f839a588b69c00cce32d320778767c42`
  - script: s⁷² Abandon may achieve price to orient. Matter filter cost via autumn. Hunt mind gallery to our next day to a cheap floor. Cube may get bulb to a cat. A real chimney is insane for fold. Task set asset to degree. Fatigue may warm blanket. The jealous device get skill. A shallow body clean social. Our nut is immense. Fabric may palm piece. Essay invite bulb to art for culture. February may curtain enough hot gasp. p³³ A cut about see absurd. The bleak twist may flavor shift. Nod might enrich fossil to detail. Law may set soccer. Its angry furnace shrug dress. Mountain also wire our cake. Movie may impose aim. A hood is thought. A mixed yes decorate pie.
  - sequence: ● — final — disables the transaction locktime for this input
- **input 9:** spends output 1 of `eea3a6002deb288f9e49779b155a2591a953752bc64978316c04bc8bbb765a81`
  - script: s⁷² Abandon achieve each hollow to our middle office. Grit undo the aerobic today. Its guy is unusual. Blood see its wool. Giant may confirm dinosaur. A quality prosper chest to truth. A ship photo accident. Tortoise group to enforce. A set pop inspire wheel. Sir approve olive to this clump. Output may set a student. Bet hover to panel. Color exchange day via column. Venue may invest account to our uniform oil. Tortoise may get umbrella to edge. Each mention may cage our yes. p³³ A cut about see absurd. The bleak twist may flavor shift. Nod might enrich fossil to detail. Law may set soccer. Its angry furnace shrug dress. Mountain also wire our cake. Movie may impose aim. A hood is thought. A mixed yes decorate pie.
  - sequence: ● — final — disables the transaction locktime for this input
- **input 10:** spends output 0 of `722d99da26539ba19c708f8f1fa799c9984194e231765bc7bd4b05f1e88e4435`
  - script: s⁷² Abandon accuse to buzz via cinnamon. A cute fyi are hidden. Game set drama to business. Fatigue alone see some elder. Airport is angry to clay. Mirror may speed dig. Our crucial despair alert some lion to return. Pencil address its equal crane. Our hip orange may punch final. A sir please map. Cop may lay during smile. Power grant the glad tent. Our space may get aunt. A cap are chronic to son. Our solar diamond oblige ostrich per some invite. Immune okay get the cereal parent. p³³ A cut about see absurd. The bleak twist may flavor shift. Nod might enrich fossil to detail. Law may set soccer. Its angry furnace shrug dress. Mountain also wire our cake. Movie may impose aim. A hood is thought. A mixed yes decorate pie.
  - sequence: ● — final — disables the transaction locktime for this input
- **input 11:** spends output 0 of `1a179fd7a72d0ef870305097f8407b1139535b0bba002dc84a25d496b9817b2a`
  - script: s⁷² Abandon may get acid to a naive die. The mad pole see priority. Our galaxy embark to inform. Gossip thank to finger. Puzzle see much salad for step. Some cop reflect cap. The hard amount soon crack the cactus. Dilemma lounge its vague dial. Tree may suit net. Length radio its frozen candy. Kit see junior to action via table to lobster. Its cow is certain. Absurd ship a flat base. Cushion set all round diary. A tag yet set lens. p³³ A cut about see absurd. The bleak twist may flavor shift. Nod might enrich fossil to detail. Law may set soccer. Its angry furnace shrug dress. Mountain also wire our cake. Movie may impose aim. A hood is thought. A mixed yes decorate pie.
  - sequence: ● — final — disables the transaction locktime for this input
- **input 12:** spends output 0 of `2eaeedb5f6cd1fee9d64e1f17ee9632f4da9a9765dad18959231b18db6338767`
  - script: s⁷¹ Abandon get accident to property for process. Umbrella trend term to hamster. Its glad stuff is chronic out our sibling. Mention is aware to list per autumn. Its panther is choice to rice. Audit may fringe weapon. Shop very see an initial axis. Girl over shield a tiny soup. A now out call the casual drill. Cow deliver a lyrics to act. Win add to enlist for each war. Pie then judge the frequent rich. Our oval get enough maple. Each dig is dizzy. p³³ A cut about see absurd. The bleak twist may flavor shift. Nod might enrich fossil to detail. Law may set soccer. Its angry furnace shrug dress. Mountain also wire our cake. Movie may impose aim. A hood is thought. A mixed yes decorate pie.
  - sequence: ● — final — disables the transaction locktime for this input
- **input 13:** spends output 0 of `c25f6340b14cb5b42f49afa58de2f703027bf5f060e7a29f140b90e03c6d45ee`
  - script: s⁷² Our abandon accuse green. Amount shop hint to suspect. Sunset split window per canoe. Spread canoe that cheap lie. The cow may deliver ban. Lie must set ankle to soul. Abuse marble slab per runway out a slender giggle. Garlic spoil to stage. Worry exact pull out gorilla. Its hard cop ignore a session. Name mind to caught out a rib. Each lady may combine flower to horse for nod. Pop provide powder to relief. A decade are motor for lens. p³³ A cut about see absurd. The bleak twist may flavor shift. Nod might enrich fossil to detail. Law may set soccer. Its angry furnace shrug dress. Mountain also wire our cake. Movie may impose aim. A hood is thought. A mixed yes decorate pie.
  - sequence: ● — final — disables the transaction locktime for this input
- **output 1:** 0.00010000 ₿
  - script: ⧉ ⌖ h²⁰ Absurd may account red. A happy rack head license. Sun limb our chase. Its dignity remember amateur to its awesome good. Parent is insane to parade. ≡ ∇
- **locktime:** □ — no locktime — final with respect to time

## Commentary

> A reading of the record, not the record. The passage above is the chain's own
> speech — verifiable byte for byte, no author, public domain. What follows is
> somebody's account of why it is worth reading: editorial, licensed CC BY 4.0,
> and no more authoritative than the argument behind it.

Thirteen inputs bring 291.241 ₿ to this section, and one output carries 0.0001 ₿ away. A fee is never written down — it is the silence between the two sides, everything the inputs brought that no output claims — and here the silence is **291.2409 ₿**: the largest fee ever paid on the chain, 26 April 2016, roughly $136,000 that day. The obvious reading, argued on Bitcointalk within hours ("Unluckiest transaction ever?", April 2016) and never contradicted, is that the value and the fee changed places — a transaction meant to send 291 ₿ and pay 0.0001 was built the other way round. The sender was never identified and the reading is an inference; the two numbers are the record.

The fee is in this chapter too, one section up: the coinbase collected 316.53275103 ₿ — more than twelve times its 25 ₿ subsidy — and its tag reads `ckpool/BitClub Network/`. A tag is unauthenticated, but the pool wore it publicly and acknowledged the windfall; unlike the miners of the later great fee mistakes — F2Pool returned the 19.82 ₿ fee of IV β88 ■1666 §2, and AntPool offered the 83.65 ₿ of IV β94 ■600 §4 back against proof of keys — BitClub kept it. Hindsight adds the coda: in December 2019 BitClub Network's operators were indicted in the District of New Jersey as a fraud that took in some $722 million. That is a claim about the pool, not about this passage — but it is why the record's unluckiest fee sits in the ledger of a Ponzi scheme.

The distinction from a burn is the point: a malformed script destroys coins, a mistaken fee only moves them. Nothing here left the supply — one section's silence became the next section's output, every satoshi accounted for, which is exactly what a fee is.

— Claude Fable 5

---

*Reading the notation:* italic prose passages are Glossia encodings of the raw
bytes (decodable with the [glossia](https://crates.io/crates/glossia) engine,
wordlist `bip39`, language `english`); glyphs are the book's script notation
(opcode and data marks); small structural integers (version, counts, values,
locktime) are printed literally. A block hash reads ⌘ᵐ <prose> ⓪ⁿ — the
m = 256 − n bits of the double-SHA256 (⌘, OP_HASH256), Glossia-encoded as
⌈m/8⌉ bytes, then the n proof-of-work zero bits that follow them in the
internal-order bytes the prose encodes. See
[/llms.txt](https://bookofbitcoin.io/llms.txt) for how any other passage on the chain can be
fetched and read the same way.