Bitttercoin is an old calculator machine hacked to be used as a miner validating the pending bitcoin transactions in the blockchain. Bittercoin combines Internet of Things (IoT), media archaeology and economics. It works as the most basic computer, increasing the time needed to produce bitcoins to almost an eternity. The operations are displayed on the calculator screen and printed afterward.

For the duration of its exhibition period, it seeks to produce money insistently and using an economic system wholly different from the traditional art market. Paper accumulates around the machine making visible the amount of calculation required, as well as, the natural resources expended in the process, often covering the whole room and the calculator itself. Bittercoin talks about the effort and the working time expended that is conditioned by technological devices. Bittercoin is a fully functional miner that connects to blockchain. Although it is very unlikely, in the event of successfully mining a block, the nonce would be sent back to the server, entering the corresponding bitcoins of the reward to our bitcoin Wallet.

Project by Martín Nadal http://muimota.net/ & César Escudero Andaluz.

DOWNLOAD: Critical mining, Blockchain and bitcoin in contemporary art.

Originally, the calculator consumes 80mA, Watts 220V * 0.08A = 17.6W and 10m of paper per hour.

Exhibitions:

2019.* Drugo More, Critical Triggers, (Rijeka).

2019.* Chronus Art Center (CAC) and ZKM, Open Codes, (Shanghai).

2019.* Galeria Tabacka, Blockchain in art, (Slovakia).

2019.* Bureau Europa, The Architecture of Trust” (Netherland).

2019.* Mobile Week, Disseny Hub Barcelona, (Spain).

2019.* Aksioma, Critical Tiggers, (Slovenia).

2018.* Kate Vass Galerie Perfect & Priceless, Value System on the Blockchain, (Switzerland).

2018.* Ars Electronica ERROR, The Art of Imperfection, Volkswagen We Space (Germany).

2018.* Ars Electronica @ SAP Headquarter Pavillion Walldorf (Germany).

2018.* Science Gallery “HUSTLE” Detroit (USA).

2017.* ZKM Zentrum für Kunst und Mediem Karlsruhe, Open codes (Germany).

2017.* NODE Forum for Digital Arts, DESIGNING HOPE, Frankfurt (Germany).

2017.* ADAF 13th Athens Digital Art Festival, #POSTFUTURE, Athens (Greece).

2017.* WRO 17th Media Art Biennale, DRAFT SYSTEMS, Wroclaw (Poland).

2016.* ARS ELECTRONICA FESTIVAL, RADICAL ATOMS, Linz (Austria).

Pics Marcin Maziej, Natalia Kabanow, Patricia Cadavid.

Press/Publications:

Artists Re:thinking the Blockchain

Artreview.com “Will the Blockchain make art disappear?” By J.J. Charlesworth

We Make Money Not Art