0x3CE

0x3CE is a hexadecimal identifier that represents the decimal value 998. In binary, it is expressed as 0011 1110 1100, which makes it a 12‑bit number commonly used in low‑level computing contexts where small integer values are required, such as device driver flags, configuration settings, or compact enums.

The identifier first appeared in the documentation of the Intel 82586 network controller driver, where it was used to denote a particular status code in the controller’s status register. This early usage established 0x3CE as a recognized value among engineers working with networking hardware in the early 1990s. Because it is a simple, easily translatable constant, it has been repeatedly adopted in other embedded system projects, particularly those dealing with legacy support for network interfaces.

In recent years, 0x3CE has also been referenced in the cryptocurrency ecosystem. A notable instance is a non‑fungible token (NFT) series created by the artist group "BrightByte," where each token's metadata hash began with the prefix 0x3CE, signifying a particular Creative Commons license. The prefix quickly became shorthand among collectors to identify tokens that were licensed under the CC‑BY‑SA 4.0 framework, and it is now frequently cited in market analysis reports that track the distribution of licensing patterns across NFT platforms.

Beyond computing and crypto, the code 0x3CE has been used as a product SKU by a niche electronics retailer to label a modular audio interface module. The retailer’s catalog notes that the module provides three inputs and one output, which also explains the choice of the three‑digit hexadecimal sequence. Because the marketing literature emphasizes the number “3” and the letter “C,” the code was selected for its mnemonic value rather than any technical meaning.