Provably fair system or just a gimmick? My mystery box investigation

Unboxing online mystery boxes feels like modern-day treasure hunting. You buy these boxes on websites using tokens.

Each unboxing gets items such as gaming gear, Hypebeast merchandise, electronics, and exclusive clothing, keeping you wondering what you'll receive next. You can either keep the item, which they will ship to you, or sell it back for more tokens.

The industry is a mix of good and bad sites, with some, like Hypedrop and Lootie, having faced criticism and legal trouble. While the convenience and variety they offer are pretty amazing, finding a trustworthy site can be challenging.

The authenticity of "provably fair" systems is a significant concern, particularly with the various types of mystery boxes available for gaming, tech, and fashion, as there are questions about the fairness of the selection process. Specifically, do all items have equal chances, and is there a way for users to verify this?

Provably fair systems do allow users to verify the fairness of their selections, but this process can be time-consuming, which may not be ideal for those who would rather focus on unboxing their items.

How provably fair systems ensure fairness

Lootie claims to use provable fair tech to ensure item randomness, but a closer look shows that's not the case. They employ a pseudo-random number generator (PRNG) for generating a client & server seed. The unboxing outcomes will be determined by a "hash value" - the combination of both, which is quite common in the industry. Yet, nothing to worry about.

The problem is this: the server seed provided to users to verify fairness changes with the client seed. Therefore when changing your client seed, they can adjust their server seed to give you a product of THEIR choice.

That is not fair, and is a rigged system. Same does Dripdraw and Hypeloot employ, giving users cheap products instead of good ones - leaving them with a hefty profit.

This scarcity of high-value items frustrates users and raises questions about the site's authenticity. Moreover, Lootie's system tends to yield the same low-value items repeatedly, which may appeal to some users.

Still, it's not so simple to understand - unclear algorithms make users spend more because they think it's a "complex" system.

On the other hand, some other sites employ a truly fair system. One example, MysteryOpening .

They use a verifiable cryptographic hash with a public seed before each unboxing, which they display to users before they start. After unboxing, they display the original seed and algorithm, allowing users to check the seed, their ID, and the hash to ensure the results are genuine.

Being transparent stops any chance of cheating, ensuring every item has an equal opportunity to be won. MysteryOpening's clear odds for each item in the boxes allows trust.

For instance, a electronics mystery box might have:

• ->High-end gaming laptop with 1 in 5,000 odds
• ->Apple MacBook Pro with 1 in 3,703 odds

By clearly stating the odds, users can make informed decisions and proceed accordingly.

Ensuring fairness & trusted mystery box websites

It's crucial to understand and verify provably fair algorithms. You should ensure that providers utilize public seeds, enabling them to independently confirm results.

Before investing, users should learn about different mystery box types and their odds. For instance, a typical gaming box might have:

• ->1 in 200 odds for high-value items
• ->1 in 2 for lower-value items

This helps in making smart choices. Sites often share user reviews and win rates, providing more insights.

Understanding provably fair systems and checking results can make the unboxing process transparent and fun.

When done correctly, the provably fair system can be legit, turning a risky gamble into a clear process and giving users the confidence to try virtual surprise boxes.

As we tested and checked multiple websites, we can say that:

MysteryOpening legit: Yes, their provable fair system works. Hashes match, and the server seed does not change.

Hypedrop legit: Yes, Hypedrop is legit as well.

Rillabox legit: Yes, Rillabox is legit.

Jemlit legit: Probably - even tough we had problems verifying their seeds.

HYBE legit: Probably, sometimes the server seed changed as well.

Hypeloot legit: No, as what we found, their hashes do not match.

Dripdraw legit: No, the hashes did not match.

Lootie legit: No, their server seed changed when altering the client seed.

Even though many sites claim to be fair, the details are crucial, as some systems lack transparency and can be misleading, eroding user trust. In contrast, sites like MysteryOpening demonstrate that fair and enjoyable unboxing experiences are possible and exciting.