University professor develops toilet that turns waste into cryptocurrency

Cho Jae-Won, a professor of urban and environmental engineering at Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) in South Korea, has developed an eco-friendly toilet that pays students in cryptocurrency for their waste products. The toilet converts human waste into renewable energy, which in turn powers a gas stove and boiler on campus.

The BeeVi toilet (an acronym for bee and vision) uses a vacuum pump that sends excrement to an underground tank where microorganisms break down the waste and convert it into methane, which is the source of energy that powers electrical appliances.

Each student who uses the eco-friendly toilet receives 10 Ggool per day, regardless of their «contribution» or frequency of use. The digital currency, which means «honey» in Korean, can be used at the campus market to buy everyday goods such as books, fruit, and instant noodles. To do this, simply scan the QR code with your smartphone.