Seb Montgomery, a prominent crypto content creator and GM of Validator.com, recently shared an exciting update on $ORE, the proof-of-work token on Solana that's reimagining mining in a fun, accessible way. In his tweet, he highlights his latest video breakdown of $ORE and references SOL Big Brain's insightful take from last year, while dropping some fresh stats on the current mining scene.

As you can see in the dashboard screenshot from Seb's tweet, the motherlode is sitting at a whopping 255.8 $ORE, with the production cost now at 2.9 times the cost to produce one $ORE. This means mining is getting more competitive and potentially more rewarding for those who play smart. Seb describes it as "literally making the trenches the mines, and the mines actually fun," turning what could be a grind into an engaging game-like experience.

What is $ORE? A Quick Primer

For those new to $ORE, it's a fair-launch proof-of-work (PoW) token built on Solana, aiming to be the "digital gold" of the ecosystem. Unlike traditional PoW chains like Bitcoin, which require heavy hardware, $ORE lets anyone mine from a laptop or even a phone. Launched in April 2024 by anonymous dev Hardhat Chad, it initially caused massive network congestion on Solana due to its popularity, leading to a temporary pause and a relaunch with improved mechanics.

The token has a max supply of 5 million (down from an original 21 million), with emissions reducing by 10% annually. This scarcity model, combined with a buyback and burn system, helps drive value. Protocol revenue comes from mining fees, which are used to buy back $ORE on the open market—90% burned and 10% distributed to stakers.

Seb Montgomery's Video Breakdown

In his comprehensive video posted on X (watch it here), Seb dives deep into $ORE's history, mechanics, and strategies. He starts by setting up a simple mining session on ore.supply, allocating SOL to mine and explaining how rewards work. Key highlights include:

• Mining Basics: Every minute, a new round starts where miners deploy SOL across 1-25 blocks. Winners are chosen randomly, with a 1/3 chance of one miner taking the full 1 $ORE reward in their block, or it being shared. Additionally, 0.2 $ORE is added to the motherlode each round, which has a 1/625 chance of hitting and is shared proportionally among miners in the winning block.

• Refining and Fees: When claiming rewards, there's a 10% fee on unrefined $ORE, redistributed to long-term holders who don't claim immediately. This incentivizes holding and reduces sell pressure. There's also a 1% admin fee on deployed SOL for development.

• Tokenomics and Revenue: Seb notes the protocol's impressive revenue—over $200,000 in 24 hours at the time of his video—ranking it high on platforms like Phantom. The buyback system uses SOL fees to purchase and burn $ORE, supporting price stability.

• Strategies for Profit: For beginners, use the auto-miner on ore.supply. Advanced users can leverage the CLI for efficiency. Seb advises watching the motherlode; when it exceeds 80 $ORE, more miners jump in for the jackpot potential. He also suggests liquidity providing on Meteora pools like ORE/SOL or ORE/USDC for passive yields around 19% APR.

• Risks: The program isn't immutable yet (pending audit), and high motherlodes could tempt malicious validators. Plus, mining often runs at a loss in SOL but gains in $ORE, betting on future price appreciation.

Seb's video is packed with timestamps for easy navigation, from history (00:43) to tokenomics (13:53) and community insights (21:34). It's a must-watch if you're considering dipping into $ORE mining.

SOL Big Brain's Accumulation Thesis

Seb also shouts out SOL Big Brain's earlier analysis (original post here), which turned bullish on $ORE after key changes. Back in December 2024, SBB flipped from bearish due to high FDV (fully diluted valuation) to accumulating heavily. Highlights:

• Supply slashed from 21M to 5M, emissions reduced.
• Price dropped to ~$50 with a circulating MC of $9M and FDV of $250M—seen as a solid entry.
• Fair launch with no pre-mine, backed by Hardhat Chad's $3M raise for Regolith Labs (no tokens sold).
• Mission: Reimagine PoW mining as Solana's digital gold.

SBB bets on the long road to adoption, emphasizing the team's vision and community strength.

Why $ORE Matters for Meme Token Enthusiasts

While $ORE isn't a pure meme coin, its gamified mining and "digital gold" narrative have meme-like appeal—think mining animations, community challenges, and the thrill of hitting the motherlode. On Solana, where speed meets innovation, $ORE stands out by blending utility with fun, potentially attracting degens and builders alike. With recent revenue surges and community buzz, it's worth monitoring for breakout potential.

If you're into blockchain tech or looking to level up your Solana knowledge, check out Seb's video and start experimenting with small stakes. Remember, this isn't financial advice—always DYOR and mine responsibly.

For more on meme tokens and blockchain insights, stick around at Meme Insider. What's your take on $ORE? Drop a comment below!