Microsoft Technology Licensing, the licensing arm of Microsoft Corp., has been granted an international patent for a “cryptocurrency system using body activity data,” as published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on March 26, 2020. The patent application was filed on June 20, 2019. According to the document, human body activity generated when a user performs tasks such as using search engines, interacting with chatbots, or viewing advertisements can be utilized in the mining process of a cryptocurrency system.
Patent Details: Brain Waves and Body Heat as Mining Resources
The patent states: “A brain wave or body heat emitted from the user when the user performs the task provided by an information or service provider, such as viewing advertisement or using certain internet services, can be used in the mining process.” The method aims to “reduce computational energy for the mining process as well as make the mining process faster.” Notably, the patent explains that “instead of massive computation work required by some conventional cryptocurrency systems, data generated based on the body activity of the user can be a proof-of-work, and therefore, a user can solve the computationally difficult problem unconsciously.”
How the System Works
The system uses various sensors to measure or sense body activity, including functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanners, electroencephalography (EEG) sensors, near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) sensors, heart rate monitors, thermal sensors, optical sensors, radio frequency (RF) sensors, ultrasonic sensors, cameras, or any other suitable scanner. It verifies whether the body activity data satisfies one or more conditions set by the cryptocurrency system, and if so, awards cryptocurrency to the user. Additionally, the system may reward cryptocurrency to the owner or operator of a task provider “for providing services, such as search engines, chatbots, applications or websites, offering users access for free to paid contents (e.g., video and audio streaming or electronic books), or sharing information or data with users.”
Alternative Mining Approaches
The concept of using human body heat for cryptocurrency mining is not entirely new. In 2018, Manuel Beltrán, founder of the Dutch Institute of Human Obsolescence, conducted an experiment using a special bodysuit that harvested human body heat into sustainable energy to power a computer for mining. Microsoft’s patent expands on this idea by incorporating a wider range of body activity data, including brain waves, and formalizing it as a verifiable proof-of-work mechanism. While the patent has been granted, it remains to be seen whether Microsoft will commercialize the technology. If implemented, it could significantly reduce the energy consumption associated with traditional cryptocurrency mining and open new avenues for integrating biometric data with blockchain systems.