The Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND), Germany’s intelligence agency, has taken a unique approach to recruit talent by releasing a non-fungible token (NFT) collection through a captivating blockchain treasure hunt. The collection, named “Dogs of BND,” consists of 999 generative dog-themed profile pictures (PFPs) featuring cyber security-themed wearables.
Prospective candidates, particularly those proficient in blockchain technology, are invited to participate in the gamified treasure hunt. To acquire the NFTs, participants must uncover a hidden string of characters strategically placed by the agency. This clue, which could be a wallet address, transaction hash, block, or token number, grants access to mint into the collection.
The minting cost for the NFTs is less than 1 cent, excluding gas fees. However, the floor price on the secondary marketplace OpenSea currently stands at 0.045 ETH, approximately $82. Out of the 999 NFTs, only 987 are available for minting, and the treasure hunt will conclude once all 987 tokens have been claimed.
The BND aims to attract young talents fluent in blockchain technology to bolster their cybersecurity efforts. To reach potential candidates, the agency has leveraged its Instagram following, specifically targeting social media-savvy individuals interested in NFTs.
While the BND has successfully integrated NFTs into their recruitment strategy, other government agencies have approached tokenized assets with caution. The U.K. government, for instance, had plans to create an NFT through the Royal Mint but ultimately abandoned the project in March 2023 due to concerns surrounding speculation and financial risks.
By adopting this innovative approach, the BND hopes to discover exceptional talents in the field of cyber security, further enhancing their capabilities in combating cybercrime. The NFT treasure hunt not only showcases the agency’s embrace of blockchain technology but also demonstrates their dedication to attracting individuals who can contribute to their mission of safeguarding national security.
