Crypto Gloss

Checks – VV Edition

Checks – VV Edition is an on-chain Ethereum art project launched by Jack Butcher (Visualize Value) on January 3, 2023, as a direct response to Twitter’s decision to monetize the blue verification checkmark — beginning as 80 colorful check marks per NFT and enabling holders to “burn” multiple Checks together to reduce the number of checks shown, all the way to a single black check called “The One,” creating an on-chain burn mechanic that made reduction and scarcity into the artwork itself.

The Collection

Attribute Detail
Supply Open edition mint (first 24 hours); then closed
Blockchain Ethereum (ERC-721)
Launch January 3, 2023
Mint price Free (gas only)
Creator Jack Butcher / Visualize Value
Art license CC0 (public domain)

The initial mint was an open edition — anyone could mint for free (gas only) during the 24-hour window on January 3, 2023 (the date Bitcoin’s genesis block was mined — a deliberate choice). Thousands of NFTs were minted.

The Visual

Each Check NFT displays a grid of colored check marks against a black background. The original Checks display 80 checks in 10 columns × 8 rows, with the colors and arrangement varying by token.

The visual directly referenced the Twitter Blue verification checkmark — responding to Elon Musk’s decision (November 2022) to sell the blue checkmark as a $8/month subscription, removing it as a meaningful signal of identity verification.

The Burn Mechanic

Burning is the core innovation of Checks:

Step Input Output
Initial 1 Check (80 checks shown) —
Burn 2×80 Two 80-check tokens One 40-check token
Burn 2×40 Two 40-check tokens One 20-check token
Burn 2×20 Two 20-check tokens One 10-check token
… Continue halving 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
Final Final burn “The One” — single black check

Each burn step:

  • Destroys one token permanently
  • Upgrades the surviving token to fewer checks
  • Fewer checks = rarer = more valuable on secondary market
  • “The One” is the theoretical maximum rarity — a single black check

This mechanic made scarcity active rather than passive — holders chose to burn their NFTs to create rarer output, making the total supply and rarity distribution dynamic and participatory.

Cultural Context

Checks launched at a significant moment:

  • November 2022: Elon Musk acquires Twitter; blue checkmarks become purchasable for $8/month
  • December 2022: NFT market in deep bear market; skepticism about NFT value widespread
  • January 3, 2023: Checks launches free on the Bitcoin genesis block anniversary

The commentary was clear: the institutionalized blue checkmark (a free signal of identity) had been commodified, and Checks made that commodification explicit art. The open-edition free mint meant participation was maximally accessible.

Market Impact

Despite the free mint, Checks quickly developed significant secondary market value:

  • Single-check (“The One” configurations) sold for 100+ ETH
  • The burn mechanic created ongoing secondary market activity
  • Artists and collectors engaged with the burn mechanic as performance art

Checks is widely cited alongside Nouns and Autoglyphs as an example of on-chain art mechanics elevating NFTs beyond static JPEGs.

History

  • November 2022 — Twitter blue checkmark monetization announced; inspiration for Checks
  • January 3, 2023 — Open edition mint launches on Bitcoin’s genesis block anniversary; thousands minted in 24 hours for free
  • January–February 2023 — Burn mechanic drives intense secondary market activity; rare low-check configurations sell for significant ETH
  • 2023 — Checks establishes itself as a landmark on-chain art project; Jack Butcher’s most culturally significant NFT work
  • 2023–2024 — Checks continues to trade; the burn mechanic remains active; the collection is studied as a case study in participatory on-chain art

Common Misconceptions

  • “Checks is just a Twitter commentary and nothing more.” — While the Twitter checkmark was the catalyst, Checks developed into a serious on-chain art experiment about value, scarcity, and participation. The burn mechanic is a genuine innovation in NFT design that influenced subsequent projects.
  • “Free mint means low value.” — Like Goblintown, Checks demonstrated that free mints can generate significant secondary market value when the concept and community are compelling. Single-check configurations sold for 100+ ETH.

Social Media Sentiment

  • X/Twitter: Checks is a beloved project in the on-chain art and NFT collector communities; Jack Butcher’s design philosophy and the timing of the launch made it immediately culturally resonant; frequently cited alongside Nouns in discussions of innovative NFT mechanics.
  • r/NFT / r/CryptoArt: Highly regarded as one of the most intellectually coherent NFT projects; the burn mechanic receives particular praise as a genuine innovation.
  • Collector community: Checks is part of serious on-chain art collections alongside Autoglyphs and Art Blocks; the visual language of checks has appeared in physical gallery shows.

Last updated: 2026-04

Related Terms

See Also

  • Nouns — another on-chain NFT project with innovative mechanics; Nouns uses daily auctions and CC0; Checks uses burns and commentary; both are considered canonical on-chain art
  • Autoglyphs — the earliest on-chain generative art; Checks is in the lineage of on-chain art that Autoglyphs pioneered
  • Free Mint — the launch mechanic Checks used; the accessibility of the free mint was central to its cultural impact

Sources