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| The Bitcoin is a virtual currency that is usually used to pay for goods from a computer or mobile device |
A Dutch
bitcoin entrepreneur has had two microchips containing the virtual currency
injected into his hands to help him make contactless payments.
The chips, enclosed in a 2mm by 12mm capsule of
"biocompatible" glass, were injected by a professional using a
special syringe.
They emit a tiny radio signal using Near Field
Communication (NFC) and can store up to 888 bits of information each.
"We wanted to do this experiment to push further
the concept of the virtual wallet," Martijn Wismeijer, co-founder of MrBitcoin
which installs bitcoin cash distributors, told AFP.
Using NFC, the chips can communicate with devices such
as Android smartphones or tablets.
"What's stored on the microchips should be seen
as a savings account," rather than a current account, Wismeijer said.
"The payment device remains the smartphone, but
you transfer funds from the chips," said Wismeijer, who was injected with
the chips along with a handful of other people on November 3.
His experiment has garnered so much publicity that he
has temporarily withdrawn the money from his hands for security reasons.
"The aim wasn't for everyone to know about
it," he said, laughing.
The chips are available on the Internet, sold with a
syringe for $99 (around 80 euros) by the Dangerous Things company.
"It's really not recommended to do this yourself,
you should find a specialist if you want to avoid infections," Wismeijer
said.
Besides storing bitcoins, the chips can be programmed
with a smartphone to do such things as open doors electronically or turn an
alarm clock off if placed in a certain position.
Around 1,500 people around the world have already had
such chips injected, Wismeijer said, but he did not know how many carried
bitcoins.
Such experiments are important to make the technology
acceptable to society, he said.
"Imagine having a tattoo that is normally
invisible but turns red if you have a heart attack: you scan the tattoo with
your smartphone and your doctor is immediately alerted."
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