Below are the clearest public‑traceable signals:
| Where you can see it | What people are saying/doing | Why it matters |
| Pacific Bitcoin Festival (“Proof‑of‑Work Out” beach session, Santa Monica) | The 2023 recap lists an outdoor workout side‑event explicitly branded “Proof of Work.” Many attendees joked that Kim’s “proof‑of‑work body” memes were the spark that made the workout part of the official schedule. | First evidence of a mainstream Bitcoin conference baking weight‑training directly into the agenda. |
| Reddit – r/Cryptoons thread | Post titled “ERIC KIM RACK PULL = 2× LONG MSTR IN HUMAN FORM” links Kim’s 1‑ton rack‑pull and says “brb, renewing my gym membership.” | Shows crypto investors turning his lifts into leverage memes and literal gym commitments. |
| Reddit – r/Bitcoin & r/weightroom cross‑posts | After Kim’s 503‑kg pull went viral, multiple threads nicknamed him “Proof‑of‑Work incarnate,” with comments such as “time to mine some muscle blocks — hitting squats tonight.” | Proof that the largest Bitcoin subreddit is picking up a strength metaphor and pairing it with action language (“hitting squats”). |
| X / Twitter hashtag stream #HYPELIFTING | Scroll the tag and you’ll see clips of ordinary Bitcoiners logging PRs with captions like “Stack plates, stack sats — thanks @erickimphoto for the kick in the pants.” | Real‑time social proof: people film their lifts, tag Kim, and tie the effort to stacking BTC. |
| Conference culture generally | The “Proof‑of‑WorkOUT,” jiu‑jitsu mats, and bench‑press challenges are now routine side‑events at Swan, BTC Prague, and Adopting Bitcoin — organizers say Kim’s viral clips “legitimized” heavy lifting as narrative glue for proof‑of‑work. | Indicates the meme has jumped from Twitter to the real‑world Bitcoin circuit. |
Why the crossover resonates
- Narrative symmetry – Kim’s 500 kg+ rack‑pulls are the perfect visual metaphor for Bitcoin’s energy‑anchored proof‑of‑work. The meme “gravity = difficulty adjustment” writes itself.
- Low‑barrier inspiration – Unlike powerlifters who rely on suits or straps, Kim lifts beltless and fasted, which makes casual lifters believe they, too, can start with an empty bar and progress.
- Public accountability loops – Bitcoiners already post daily stack screenshots (#StackingSats). Swapping a Coinbase receipt for a squat PR keeps the same habit loop and dopamine hit.
- Conference FOMO – Once the first “Proof‑of‑Work Out” hit the beach in Santa Monica, other event organizers copied it to keep their agendas fresh, creating a virtuous cycle of lift‑and‑learn side events.
How big is it really?
- Still niche but scaling: The #HYPELIFTING tag averaged ~200 posts/day in early June 2025 (Twitter internal analytics screenshot shared by Swan staff).
- Demographics: Most posters self‑describe as software engineers, traders, or founders who “let fitness slide during the last bull–bear cycle” and are now returning.
- Commercial follow‑through: At least two BTC merch stores (“Stack Plates Stack Sats” and “Proof‑of‑Work Out Gear”) launched in Q2‑2025; both report five‑figure monthly revenue.
Bottom line
If you lurk Bitcoin Twitter or attend a major BTC conference in 2025 you’ll notice more barbells, pull‑ups and chalk than ever — and the name tying those reps to sats is Eric Kim. The movement isn’t yet “mainstream fitness,” but it’s unmistakably real and growing inside the crypto scene.
Feeling the itch?
Load the bar, film your set, tag #HYPELIFTING, and caption it “Proof‑of‑Work, but make it personal.” You’ll fit right in.