Change.org Launches Screensaver That Mines Crypto for Charity

Social petition platform, Change.org, has announced the launch of a screensaver that mines Monero on behalf of the organization. “The Mining Screensaver” will pool the computing power of the program’s users, with all XMR generated being automatically transferred to the Change.org Foundation.

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“The Screensaver That Mines Cryptocurrency to Help People Change the World”

Change.org has partnered with marketing agency, Traceylocke Brazil, to launch a screensaver that mines bitcoin whilst users’ computers sit idly. According to Change.org’s website, the screensaver “ensures that your computer mines cryptocurrency when you’re not using it,” and “The amount you earn is directly donated to the Change.org Foundation.”

The petition platform estimates that if 10,000 computers use the screensaver for 12 hours each day, the platform could generate $10,000 USD worth donations in one month. At present, the program is only available for Windows users, with no indication being given as to whether or not Change.org plans to release a version for Mac in future.

With the program being made available as open source, in addition to being built around Monero, many from the cryptocurrency community suspect The Mining Screen Saver may have been built using a modified version of Coinhive’s API.

On the program’s website, Change.org describes cryptocurrency as comprising “an alternative economic system that has the potential to revolutionize the way money circulate[s].”

Past Efforts to Converge Cryptocurrency Mining and Charity

The Mining Page appears to have been inspired by Unicef Australia’s “The Hopepage” – a website that diverts visitors’ processing power to mine cryptocurrency that is donated to Unicef Australia. The Hopepage was built using Authedmine – a modified version of Coinhive’s API that allows users to consent to their computing power being used to mine Monero on behalf of the program’s publishers. As of this writing, there are 19,306 computers that are contributing to The Hopepage.

In December 2017, Bail Bloc – a charity donating XMR mined by users to raise bail money for non-violent offenders – generated $3,000 which was donated to the Bronx Freedom Fund after just one month of operation.

Do you think that opt-in cryptocurrency mining will become a common means through which charities raise money? Join the discussion in the comments section below!

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