Gold Rush 2.0: The National Park Service Now Issues Digital Mining Claims for Virtual Gold
DENVER, CO - In a landmark move blending heritage and high-tech, the National Park Service announced today it will begin issuing "Digital Gold Claims" to the public, allowing visitors to prospect for virtual gold deposits within iconic parks like Yellowstone and Yosemite. The program, set to launch in 2026, uses blockchain technology to map "ghost veins" of historical gold discovered during the 1800s, rewarding finders with tradeable NFTs tied to real-world conservation credits. While officials tout it as a way to fund park maintenance without disturbing natural landscapes, critics warn of a new digital land grab, with speculators already paying thousands for mapping drones. One early prospector, a 34-year-old former gamer, struck it rich by scanning a forgotten trail in Grand Teton, netting what he calls "gold so clean it saves trees."