Bitcoin Accountability Pacts

"Lock in Bitcoin promises with sat burns. Pledge node uptime, HODLing, or dev work—slack off, lose sats. 500+ nodes onboard. Live demo: bitcoinpacts.carrd.co #Bitcoin"

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My 4-Month Coding Journey to a Bitcoin Hackathon The Backstory Four months ago, I didn't know how to write a single line of code. Today, I'm submitting a Bitcoin project to MIT. Here's my honest journey:

My Entire Coding Knowledge: Basic C syntax Currently learning Python and cybersecurity through CS50 No prior web development experience Bitcoin knowledge? I only knew it existed When I signed up for this hackathon, I thought: "I'm completely out of my depth."

The Challenges Failed Team Search: Contacted developers - all declined to work with me Nearly quit before starting (Googled "how Bitcoin works" one hour before coding)

Trial-by-Fire Learning:

Learned about OP_RETURN while building

Used Carrd because I'd never created a website before

Watched three PSBT tutorials mid-development

Why This Project Matters In just 24 hours, I: Built my first complete project without following tutorials Executed real Bitcoin transactions (on testnet) Proved that beginners can contribute meaningfully to Bitcoin

The code might not be perfect, but it works - and that's my personal victory.

🌱 My Hackathon Journey

Why I Built This

As someone new to Bitcoin, I wanted to create something practical that bridges crypto with real-life habits. The idea of "burning money if you fail" fascinated me - it turns abstract accountability into something visceral.

What I Learned (The Hard Way)

  • Bitcoin isn't just currency - it's programmable money
  • OP_RETURN can store data permanently on-chain
  • Testnet coins have no value (I tried to HODL them at first!)
  • Building on Bitcoin is very different from Ethereum

How I Built It Without Deep Bitcoin Knowledge

  1. Leveraged Tools:
    • Used Carrd for the frontend (no coding needed)
    • Google Forms to collect pledge data
    • Pre-built libraries for Bitcoin transactions
  2. Focused on the Concept:
    • The demo shows the psychology, not complex scripting
    • Used testnet so mistakes weren't costly
  3. Asked for Help:
    • Bitcoin websites i used for information
    • Read just enough documentation to make it work

Challenges I Faced

  • Understanding UTXOs felt like learning a new language
  • Setting up a testnet wallet took 2 hours (!)
  • Almost quit when my first i stuck in git code implementation

What Makes Me Proud

Despite knowing very little about Bitcoin when I started: ✅ Built a working prototype in 24 hours
✅ Made something that actually works on testnet
✅ Proved accountability tools don't need middlemen

This project represents my first step into Bitcoin development - flawed but functional.

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Updates

posted an update —

Bitcoin Accountability Pacts v0.1 - First Testnet Release!

After an intense 24-hour hackathon sprint, I'm thrilled to share the first working version of Bitcoin Accountability Pacts - the trustless commitment device that burns sats if you break your promises!

What's New: Basic pact creation via OP_RETURN Testnet transaction burning mechanism Simple Carrd.co interface for pledges

Behind the Scenes: python:- (some part of the code)

Sample pact creation code

def create_pact(goal, burn_amount): print(f"New pact: '{goal}' or burn {burn_amount} sats!") return generate_psbt(goal, burn_amount)

Next Steps: Lightning Network integration Mainnet compatibility Mobile app development

Try it now: https://bitcoinpacts.carrd.co/

This started as a hackathon project from someone who barely knew Bitcoin 4 months ago - your feedback means everything! What features would you like to see next?

Bitcoin #Hackathon #SelfImprovement #Fintech

I hope i make this more innovative and impactful .

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