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Following the legacy of previous projects, such as Bittercoin, the worst miner ever and Bitcoin of Things (BoT), our proposal – The Bitcoin miner orchestra – consist of transforming music instruments in Bitcoin miners. Combining the interactive, playful and performative features of the musical instrument with the critical approach to the cryptocurrencies electricity consumption and the economical music industry which is investing in new ways of monetisation and storage of music through blockchain.

Combining a Wi-Fi microcontroller and different sensors such as an accelerometer, microphones or buttons, the device generates a „Nonce” from its reads and validates all the Blockchain pending transactions. Finally, the micro-controller is attached to music instruments, like keyboards, computer mice or maracas, by using them the object can potentially generate big number of Bitcoins, playing with the idea of finding the philosopher’s stone. These devices give the possibility to the musician to earn Bitcoins during their performance. 

This is a workshop addressed to those who have concerns with media art, digital culture, critical economy, electronics and Internet of Things (IoT). Theoretically, it introduces concepts, examples, art-works and books in order to understand the Bitcoin and blockchain world. Practically, it proposes to work with a basic electronic circuit, welding and microcontrollers building a playful bitcoin miner. The objective is to transform daily life objects (e.g. maracas, hammers or salt shakers) into Bitcoin miners able to connect to the blockchain, calculating a hash to trying to get a reward of 12.5 Bitcoins.

César Escudero Andaluz (ES), a PhD candidate, artist and researcher focused on Human Computer Interaction, interface criticism, digital culture and its social and political effects. His work spans image-making, sculpture, videogame, installation, networked culture, IoT, robotics, media archaeology. Since 2011 he is researching at the Kunstuniversität Linz in Interface Culture LAB. His artworks have been shown during international electronic-art events, and in museums, galleries and conferences, including Ars Electronica Center in Linz, ZKM in Karlsruhe, ISMAR2015 in Fukuoma (Japan), WRO Biennale 2015 and 2017 in Wroclaw (Poland), Transnumeriques (Belgium) / Hangar.org in Barcelona, KIKK in Namur (Belgium), Rome Media Art Festival, or ADAF in Athens.

Martin Nadal (ES) is an artist/developer based in Linz and studying the Interface Cultures program at KunstUni. In the past years, he has collaborated in a variety of projects and taught some workshops related to art and technology. He is also interested in illustration and cinematography. His works have been shown at Visualizar 11 (Medialab Prado), Ars Electronica, AMRO Festival y Settimana della Scienza (Genova). IAMAS (Japan).