Microsoft wants to patent a new mining solution that will reward users with bitcoins for brain activity.

Microsoft's patent application describes a system that scans the user's brain activity and other physiological signals that confirm that they performed a specific task, such as, for example, watching a commercial. An application called “Cryptocurrency system using body activity data” explains how “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."

According to the application, the system is supposed to monitor human body activities, such as body fluid flow, a brain wave, pulse rate or body heat radiation, and generate data using a hash algorithm converting human body activity into an encryption output.

"The cryptocurrency system communicatively coupled to the device of the user may verify if the body activity data satisfies one or more conditions set by the cryptocurrency system, and award cryptocurrency to the user whose body activity data is verified."

“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. Accordingly, certain exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure may reduce computational energy for the mining process as well as make the mining process faster,” the patent application reads.

For the system to work, a human user must have a sensor attached or implanted into his body. The Microsoft system provides a reward to users for allowing them to control their bodies in this way. Rewards will be paid in cryptocurrency for performing certain tasks.