PoW video guidelines

How to create qualifying Proof of Work video posts for PoWBoT.

What qualifies

Counts

Your video post must meet all of these requirements:

  • Include #spedn hashtag: Your post must include the hashtag #spedn
  • Show the transaction: Video must capture an actual Bitcoin payment happening
  • Merchant receives sats directly: No fiat settlement services – merchant must receive Bitcoin
  • Merchant paycode/LNURL in post: Must be clearly typed in the written post text (not just shown in video). If multiple paycodes are included, the merchant’s must appear first
  • BTCMap.org link required: Must include a link to the merchant’s BTCMap.org profile in your post
  • Permanent merchant location: Must be an established business with a fixed physical location (no mobile vendors, delivery services, or temporary stands)
  • Valid on X & Nostr: Posts on either platform qualify

Submission limits (Epoch 6)

  • Weekly limit: 3 different merchants per project per week. The week runs Monday to Sunday and resets Monday 00:00 UTC (02:00 CAT).
  • Once per platform: each merchant can be posted once on X and once on Nostr per week.
  • Cross-posts: posting the same merchant on the other platform pays about 25% of the first post’s reward.

This means:

Counts

  • 3 different merchants in a week – full reward each
  • Each of those 3 also posted to the other platform – ~25% of the first post each
  • So a full week is 6 posts: 3 merchants × 2 platforms

Won’t count

  • The same merchant twice on the same platform in one week
  • A 4th new merchant in the same week

Tip: Spread your posts throughout the week for maximum visibility.

Required video elements

  1. ShopfrontBrief exterior/street view
  2. Shop interiorBrief overview inside
  3. Bitcoin sign“Bitcoin Accepted” signage
  4. SelectionCustomer choosing product
  5. TransactionPayment process clearly shown
  6. ConfirmationPayment success screen
  7. Ending screenProject donation QR codes

Keep it short: Videos should be 45–60 seconds maximum. Focus on showing the transaction and required elements. Edit your clips to capture the essential moments efficiently.

Proper formatting: Crop your videos correctly. Do not edit portrait videos onto a horizontal canvas – keep videos in their native orientation.

Suggested post format

Example post
⚡️ Use Bitcoin as everyday money
#spedn
merchant@blink.sv
btcmap.org/merchant/12345
[Your post’s story here...]
[UPLOADED VIDEO]

Tip for posting to X: Posts truncate at 280 chars. Put required elements first!

Remember: The merchant’s Lightning address must appear first if you’re including multiple paycodes or donation addresses in your post.

What doesn’t qualify

Won’t count

  • Fiat settlement: Merchant receiving fiat through off-ramps
  • No verifiable location: Random sellers, unidentifiable locations, temporary stands, street vendors
  • Mobile services: Taxis, delivery services, or any mobile merchants (too difficult to verify location)
  • Random people at meetups: Sending sats to individuals who aren’t merchants
  • Salary payments: Paying employees is not a PoW video. Employees should spend their salaries at merchants instead
  • Talking without showing: Describing what you did without on-camera evidence of the transaction
  • No context videos: Videos filmed outside your circular economy project or without identifying location
  • Unclear transactions: If the video doesn’t clearly show sats being spent, it won’t count