Microsoft Technology Licensing, the licensing arm of Microsoft Corp., has been granted an international patent for a groundbreaking cryptocurrency system that leverages human body activity data for mining. The patent, published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on March 26, 2020, was originally filed on June 20, 2019. It describes a method where users' brain waves and body heat, emitted while performing online tasks such as using search engines, chatbots, viewing advertisements, or reading articles, can be used in the mining process of a cryptocurrency system.
Core Concept: Turning Body Activity into Mining Power
The patent states: “Human body activity associated with a task provided to a user may be used in a mining process of a cryptocurrency system.” For example, “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.” This approach aims to “reduce computational energy for the mining process as well as make the mining process faster.” Unlike conventional cryptocurrency systems that require massive computation, data generated based on body activity can serve as a form of proof-of-work, allowing users to “solve the computationally difficult problem unconsciously.”
Sensor Technology for Data Collection
To capture this biological data, the patent lists a variety of sensors and scanners, 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, and cameras. The system can verify whether the body activity data satisfies one or more conditions set by the cryptocurrency system, and award cryptocurrency to the user whose data is verified.
Reward Mechanisms and Applications
The patent details that the system may reward cryptocurrency to an owner or task operator “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.” This creates a potential ecosystem where users contribute their biological data as a resource in exchange for cryptocurrency, while service providers can offset costs through mining rewards.
Context and Prior Art
The idea of using 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 to generate electricity, which then powered a computer for mining cryptocurrencies. Microsoft's patent expands this concept by incorporating brain waves and other neural signals, reflecting a broader trend of integrating biometric data with blockchain technology. This innovation could potentially lower the energy barrier for mining and make cryptocurrency generation more accessible to everyday users.
The patent has sparked discussions about privacy, consent, and the ethical use of human biological data in decentralized systems. As Microsoft explores the commercial viability of this technology, the crypto community watches closely to see if body activity mining could become a practical alternative to traditional proof-of-work systems.