Microsoft patent on a cryptocurrency system!

Microsoft has never shied away from cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. Now, it has filed a patent for a new cryptocurrency system that will be based on simple human body activities rather than the usual computing power of mining platforms.

Microsoft will create a cryptocurrency system that will use "body activity data"

The details of the Microsoft patent entitled "Cryptocurrency System Using Body Activity Data”Were published on March 26, 2020. According to the patent, Microsoft intends to create a cryptocurrency that will be powered by basic body activities rather than by the ASICs of miners who consume a lot of energy.

In particular, mining the Microsoft cryptocurrency will not require enormous energy since the body heat generated by simple activities such as viewing an ad or browsing the Internet will be sufficient to extract it.

In other words, users will be able to solve the complex computational puzzles required to undermine currencies even unconsciously, without having to commit too much or waste so much energy in the process.

How Microsoft's new system works

As for the operation of this cryptocurrency system, the patent includes a wearable device that will detect the user's body activity. The data generated by these bodily activities will be like normal Proof-of-Work (PoW), except for the fact that the mining process uses less computational energy and is much faster.

In addition, the cryptocurrency system connected to the user's device will check "whether the body activity data satisfies one or more conditions established by the system and will assign the user a quantity of cryptocurrency related to these".

It is worth noting that the patent application does not reveal whether Microsoft will build its cryptocurrency system on an existing blockchain or whether it will create its own support blockchain.

If the company were to really move forward, one question that would surely torment BTC investors is whether the human-powered cryptocurrency system poses a threat to Bitcoin.

A threat to Bitcoin?

To begin with, Bitcoin mining consumes a significant amount of energy. Although some reports say that most of the energy used is renewable, an alternative cryptocurrency system that can use brainwaves or body heat represents a challenge.

However, in its eleven years of history, bitcoin has carved out its niche and most of its investors are attracted primarily by its decentralization. With the current financial crisis caused by the coronavirus, banks and other businesses are calling for support from governments as bitcoin advances without external aid.

Needless to say, Microsoft's cryptocurrency would most likely be like Facebook's Libra: a digital resource developed by a high profile private company. It is therefore very unlikely that investors will transfer their funds from a completely decentralized business to Microsoft's cryptocurrency. Also, just like Libra, Microsoft's cryptocurrency may never see the light of day.