But submitting first or using the largest number of components doesn't automatically mean you'll achieve the best result.
The protocol evaluates designs according to the challenge requirements, correctness, and relevant efficiency and weighting rules.
Eligible Circuit NFTs can participate in mining reward distribution according to the protocol's rules.
These Circuit NFTs participating in PoD mining are what people commonly call TapeOut digital mining rigs.
BEM is the token used for mining rewards under the PoD mechanism.
Here's a simple way to understand the relationship:
Circuit: The digital circuit that has been created.
Mining rig: A Circuit NFT that meets the requirements to participate in PoD mining.
PoD: The mechanism for evaluating designs and determining mining weights.
BEM: The mining reward asset produced by the protocol.
However, there's something every beginner needs to understand.
Mining does not guarantee profits.
Component costs, transaction fees, competition between mining rigs, changes in mining weights, and BEM's market price can all affect actual results.
If you're new to TapeOut, I recommend learning how the protocol works before rushing to buy components, mining rigs, or BEM.
Understanding the rules is more important than rushing to participate.
5. Who created TapeOut?
When learning about a new protocol, I believe it's important to understand not only the technology but also the people behind it.
The author listed in TapeOut's official whitepaper is Blonskr (
@Blonskr).
The protocol is developed and maintained by an independent engineering team, while other developers and community members contribute to surrounding tools, applications, and research.
I believe Blonskr deserves a closer look, not only because of their role in creating TapeOut, but also because of certain decisions made around protocol design and access control.
For example, some of TapeOut's core contracts have reportedly had their administrative privileges renounced, meaning those particular rules can no longer be changed through the original administrative permissions.
However, this doesn't mean every contract throughout the TapeOut ecosystem is free of administrative controls. Each contract must be checked separately.
This raises an interesting question:
When someone creates a set of rules, are they willing to give up personal control over certain core rules?
For a decentralised protocol intended to operate over the long term, this is a question worth examining.
I'll cover Blonskr's background, the development team, TapeOut's origins, and the full process of renouncing contract permissions in the next article.
Because truly understanding TapeOut requires more than knowing what it does. It also means understanding why its creators made these choices.
6. How can you get started if you don't know anything about programming?
By now, you might still be wondering:
I don't understand circuits, and I'm not an engineer. Can I really participate in TapeOut?
I believe you can.
And you don't necessarily need to start by buying assets.
Step 1 | Start with the official website
Visit:
https://tapeout.net/
Explore TapeOut's Processors, Circuits, circuit-design canvas, and currently available public features.
You don't need to understand every technical term at once.
Treat it like visiting a new world for the first time. Start by looking around and discovering what's available.
Step 2 | Experiment with the circuit-design canvas
TapeOut's canvas allows you to drag components, connect wires, and observe how circuits work through browser-based simulations.
Start with something simple, such as a NAND gate.
See what happens to the output when you change the inputs between 0 and 1.
Then gradually experiment with different combinations.
Running a local simulation in your browser does not require you to pay on-chain transaction fees.
Only when you're ready to perform actual on-chain operations do you need to learn more about wallets, component costs, gas fees, and transaction approvals.
Step 3 | Explore TapeOutScan
Alongside the official website, I also recommend learning about this public data-exploration tool:
https://tapeoutscan.io/
TapeOutScan is a TapeOut ecosystem explorer developed by community builders.
It organises information about circuits, mining rigs, mining activity, and on-chain transactions, making it easier for users to observe and research the ecosystem.
For example, you can investigate questions such as:
What circuit activity has taken place recently?
What public information is available about a particular Circuit?
Where can I find the relevant on-chain transaction records?
Some detailed searches may require a login or be subject to usage limits.
These resources can help you move beyond simply reading other people's explanations and gradually learn to verify information yourself.
For important details, the original on-chain records should remain the primary reference.
Step 4 | Get to know the community and developers
Start with TapeOut's official X account and gradually learn about the protocol's authors, developers, and community builders.
Explore what other people are designing, what they're researching, and the problems they're trying to solve.
Whenever you encounter something you don't understand, start learning by asking one small question.
Step 5 | Find the area that interests you
You don't need to become an engineer first.
If you enjoy writing, you can create beginner tutorials.
If you enjoy design, you can explore UI design, graphics, or NFT creation.
If you're interested in technology, you can gradually learn about circuits, smart contracts, and product development.
If you're simply curious, you can start as an observer.
Not everyone needs to design a processor, and buying BEM isn't the only way to participate in TapeOut.
Building an ecosystem requires technical creators, but it also needs people who are willing to learn, share knowledge, communicate, and improve products.
Final thoughts | Starting from zero creates new possibilities for the future
Why do I want to turn TapeOut into a long-term Zero to One series?
Because I don't want every new technology to be introduced simply by telling people how amazing it is.
I want people who have never heard of TapeOut to be able to start with the basics and gradually develop their own understanding.
From NAND and LATCH to Circuit and Processor.
From PoD and BEM to the protocol design behind them.
Then, gradually, we'll learn about Blonskr, Marsman Ryan, the community foundation, and the other people contributing to the ecosystem.
I've always liked the idea of thinking long-term:
Be willing to spend three to five years learning and building consistently, with the aim of achieving something meaningful.
But I don't believe the ultimate result has to be wealth.
Maybe you'll learn a new technical skill.
Maybe you'll meet a group of interesting builders.
Maybe one day, you'll go from knowing nothing about programming to becoming a creator who can build products independently.
Of course, whether TapeOut achieves widespread adoption remains to be seen. It is not a guaranteed success story, nor is it a promise of investment returns.
But if you're curious about emerging technology and willing to spend some time understanding it, you're at least creating another possibility for your future.
You don't need to understand all of TapeOut today.
Start from zero. Learn a little more each time. That's already progress.
That's what TapeOut Zero to One is all about.
Getting to know TapeOut from the beginning and gradually understanding a world that's still being built.
Essential resources for beginners
🔗 Official website and protocol information
🌐 TapeOut official website:
https://tapeout.net/
📖 Official whitepaper:
https://tapeout.net/whitepaper
⛏️ PoD Mining — Proof of Design mining:
https://tapeout.net/pod/
🌍 Official accounts, foundation, and builders to follow
🔹 TapeOut — Official protocol account:
https://x.com/TapeOutWorld
👨💻 Blonskr — Protocol creator:
https://x.com/Blonskr
🏛 TapeOut Community Foundation:
https://x.com/TapeOutCF