Contrary to Elon Musk’s misinformed claims, we know that the production of bitcoins is already mostly derived from carbon-neutral energy. But here, it’s a step further, at least on an experimental basis, as human feces can now be used to “mine” a cryptocurrency.
This South Korean professor is like Midas
It’s a funny story that Reuters is reporting from the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) in South Korea.
Cho Jae-weon, a professor of urban and environmental engineering, has launched a new kind of ecological toilet called “BeeVi”. Connected to a laboratory, they can transform excrement into biogas and manure.
“If you think outside the box, fecal matter has valuable value to produce energy and manure. I put that value into ecological circulation. An average person defecates about 500 g per day, which can be converted into 50 L of methane gas (…) This gas can generate 0.5 kWh of electricity or be used to drive a car about 1.2 km (…)”
Professor Cho Jae-weon
“100% organic” energy to mine cryptocurrency
In the process, microorganisms actually break down the waste into methane, which then becomes a source of energy for the building.
The professor went even further, as he designed a digital currency called “Ggool,” which allows each person who uses these eco-friendly toilets to earn 10 Ggool per day.
This cryptocurrency allows students to buy various products on the institute’s campus: coffee, instant noodles, fruit or even books.
After the volcanoes to produce bitcoin, we realize that the energy needed to obtain cryptocurrencies can really come from anywhere, even the depths of our intestines. Besides, for once a “shitcoin” has a real and beneficial use, we won’t complain!
