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Re:Apps with millions of Google Play downloads covertly mine... by zodiac on Thursday March 27, 2014 @04:42AM (#7479223)
I could see it being used for protein folding, but I don't think cryptocurrency mining is an application. By running your app, I'm consuming extra electricity for which I would have to pay. How would you compensate me for that?
Re:Apps with millions of Google Play downloads covertly mine... by svas on Thursday March 27, 2014 @11:54AM (#7481126)
The basic crux of how the app works is similar to how regular bitcoin miners work. As you run the app, the app runs compute jobs (known as Stynts) which generates proof-of-work (that it did something) and sends it up to our servers. The more you run the app, the more proof-of-work you generate. You get rewarded via virtual currency (we assign to you) when you successfully run a Stynt which can then be exchanged for real goods.

Of course, the amount you get compensated should feel valuable and commensurate to the "effort" your device expended for this to be worthwhile. It largely boils down to user expectations, but given economics of scale, I'm confident that we can have more than a 1:1 ROI of effort to reward.