A conventional treasure hunt is a game where players use hints or a map to find hidden objects, which are typically tangible items, such as coins, toys or other rewards. The game typically takes place outdoors and calls for both physical effort and problem-solving abilities.

However, blockchain treasure hunts are becoming increasingly popular as blockchain technology gains wider adoption and people become more interested in exploring new and innovative ways of using this technology.

A blockchain treasure hunt uses the security and transparency of blockchain technology to create a new type of game that can be played by anyone, anywhere in the world. In return, players can be rewarded using cryptocurrencies or nonfungible tokens (NFTs).

Related: NFT pricing strategy: How to price your NFTs

This article will discuss the concept of a blockchain-based treasure hunt, steps to designing an NFT scavenger hunt, and how to use cryptocurrency treasure hunt games for marketing purposes.

Understanding an NFT treasure hunt

An NFT treasure hunt is a novel and entertaining approach for individuals and organizations to distribute unique digital assets and generate buzz about their brand or project. Players must solve puzzles or follow clues to locate hidden treasure, which has a similar concept to a traditional treasure hunt. For instance, Decentraland has organized a number of NFT treasure hunts to attract and engage nonfungible token enthusiasts.

Players are often given a number of tasks or clues to perform in an NFT treasure hunt, frequently across numerous online and offline venues. These clues can be simple or complex, and deciphering them requires a combination of intelligence, ingenuity and ability. As players progress through the hunt, they may earn smaller rewards or gain access to exclusive content or events.

The ultimate objective of the NFT treasure hunt is to gather rare, limited edition or even one-of-a-kind nonfungible tokens, which are frequently created specifically for the quest. These NFTs can represent anything, including virtual real estate, video games, music and art. 

The treasure hunt is an exciting approach to engage and incentivize users in the quickly expanding NFT ecosystem and may be utilized in a variety of scenarios, including fundraising events, marketing campaigns and community building projects.

For instance, organizations can create NFTs by partnering with artists or creators who are interested in supporting their cause. The next step is to determine the treasure hunt parameters and promote it on social media. They also need to ensure the rewards are alluring enough to entice people to participate, think about charging a participation fee (that will be donated after the hunt is over), and clearly express the cause or organization the fundraising is intended to support.

Cryptocurrency treasure hunt games for marketing purposes

Using cryptocurrency treasure hunt games for marketing purposes can be a creative and engaging way to promote a product or service. These games can aid businesses in generating awareness about their brand, boosting audience engagement and eventually raising revenue.

One of the key benefits of employing cryptocurrency treasure hunt games as marketing tactics is that they provide participants with a distinctive and unforgettable experience. These games can be made to be entertaining and challenging, with rewarding outcomes for players who succeed in beating the game. This may help to establish a favorable link between the business and the game, which may promote brand loyalty and trust.

Moreover, cryptocurrency treasure hunt games can be an effective way to connect with a tech-savvy audience. By doing so, businesses may be able to expand their reach and visibility and, ultimately, attract new customers.

Steps to creating an NFT scavenger hunt

To uncover the hidden NFTs that can be traded in for rewards, players must solve riddles and hints. Let’s understand how an NFT treasure hunt game is created.

Building an NFT scavenger hunt involves minting unique NFTs, hiding them in various locations and providing clues to participants on how to find them. Here are the general steps for creating an NFT scavenger hunt:

• Create your NFTs: Mint a collection of distinctive NFTs to use as the scavenger hunt’s prizes. To make the hunt more intriguing, take into account the NFTs’ theme, design and rarity.
• Plan the hunt: Choose the locations where the NFTs will be hidden and then make hints or puzzles to help people find them.
• Determine the rules: Decide on the rules for the scavenger hunt, including how participants can enter, the time frame for the hunt and how winners will be chosen.
• Launch the hunt: Using social media and other platforms, promote the scavenger hunt and give instructions on how to participate and win NFT prizes.
• Monitor the hunt: Follow participants’ progress, be careful to confirm when someone has discovered an NFT, and keep track of the winners.
• Reward the winners: Once the hunt is over, distribute the NFT prizes to the winners according to the rules established in step 4.

Blockchain-based treasure hunt: An NFT marketing tool

Among NFT promotion ideas include incorporating nonfungible tokens into a treasure hunt game. Below is an example of how a blockchain-based treasure hunt game could be used as an NFT marketing strategy.

Let’s imagine that an organization that creates digital art wishes to raise the profile and value of its NFTs. It decides to start a blockchain-based treasure hunt in which players must solve several puzzles pertaining to the company’s artwork.

Related: A beginner’s guide to the popular blockchains used in NFT development

The game is designed to be challenging, and there are hints scattered over the internet, including the company’s website, social media accounts and other digital platforms. Players must first acquire one of the company’s NFTs to access the game’s treasure hunt component.

Players receive their first clue after making an NFT purchase, which leads them to a specific piece of digital art produced by the company. Once they’ve located the piece of art, they’ll need to scan a specific QR code to reveal the next clue, which is locked away on the business’ Twitter account.

Gamers must keep solving clues and following hints because each challenge that is successfully completed results in a modest reward or extra NFTs. A greater prize, such as a unique NFT or a personal virtual encounter with the company’s artists, may be won by participating in the company’s virtual event, which is required for the final challenge.

Therefore, by delivering an interesting experience, companies can promote their brand and inform their audience about the value of NFTs by incorporating them into a treasure hunt game.

An NFT treasure hunt vs. a traditional treasure hunt

While both types of treasure hunts share similarities in their goal of providing an engaging and rewarding experience for participants, the use of digital assets in NFT treasure hunts can offer unique advantages in terms of accessibility, scalability and verifiability.

Here are five key differences between NFT and traditional treasure hunts:

Risks associated with NFT treasure hunts

NFT treasure hunts can be entertaining and interesting, but they can also have some concerns that people should be aware of. As some NFT treasure hunts may turn out to be fraudulent, scams and fraud are a serious risk.

Technical issues can also be a problem, as the hunts are typically conducted online and are subject to connectivity issues and glitches. Because some hunts may provide digital assets as prizes, the volatility in cryptocurrency values may impact the value of rewards.

Therefore, participants in NFT treasure hunts should make sure they are adhering to all applicable rules and regulations since they may be affected by legal and regulatory difficulties. Participants can take advantage of NFTs by being aware of these possible risks and implementing the necessary safety measures.