Topic: [ANN] Bitcoin Vending Machine - Exchange Euro coins for Bitcoin (wallets) (Read 7331 times)

UPDATE:

The vending machine is coming back right now!
Plus, it will now sell paper wallets instead of coupons for online wallets.
I posted some sketches elsewhere in the forum in case you want to have a look.

Hi, inspired from this project I created a new coupon mechanism to easywallet.org: https://easywallet.org/coupons

This means that you can sell bitcoins without exchange rate risk. Usable for any vending machine, or maybe a little shop (sell 4eur worth of coins for 5 eur, 9eur=10eur etc.).

Coupon generation can be easily automated, I created a little python script for that: https://github.com/kangasbros/Easywallet.org-tools/blob/master/generate_coupons.py

eins78
are you brian
ha ha I know you!

I noticed.

I posted that, actually. 

No, the problem is not the typing, although QR codes would shurely be the best way to solve it (they are in use now for the web wallet URL).
I am searching for a way to avoid the preloading of a special wallet altogether. for example, you send coins to the machine using a special address, but then we would need some kind of authentication.

Currently the top link on Hacker News. Must be a slow day. ^^

QR code scanner. If someone wants to deposit BTC, they transfer the BTC they want to deposit into a one-use wallet, and then print out the wallet's private key into a QR code on a piece of paper.

When you get to the machine, scan the QR code, machine verifies BTC is still on the address, and then dispenses Euros.

Problem solved?

Looks cool!

Do I see easywallet.org logo there? If you need any features or something for this, just send me a message. It seems very cool project.

Great! Now all you need is someone to yank it off the wall and take off with the euros and discard the wallets LOL.

I've whitelisted you already so you can post elsewhere. I'll move this there too.

Yes, but as a newbie board member I can't to that (and wouldn't have know where). Can a mod maybe move the thread there?

Awesome! You should post this in the Project Dev. (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?board=12.0) subforum too. It looks promising!

For the summer exhibition of my fine art studies at the Bauhaus University in Weimar and in cooperation with our local hackspace I build a mechanical Bitcoin vending machine. It repurposes an used vending machine, takes your 1€-Coin and spits a little box containing a link to an easywallet.org webwallet containing 1€ (minus the material costs).

I think this project is of interest to the bitcoin community as I also try to explore the possibilities of Bitcoin POS systems and also the design of physical representations of Bitcoins and usability aspects.

The project is still developing as we are getting to know the machine and how to mod it. Next step include support for TORwallet.net (second slot needs to be fixed). I am also developing a more flat box design which folds out to a sheet containing the link. I worked on it before I had the machine, testing then showed my boxes were to unstable, so I decided to use the normal boxes so it works flawlessly through the exhibition. Also, if we find a place to keep the machine for an extended time the amount per box will be raised to the 3€ maximum to get down the percentage of material costs (a box is 0.18€ in bulk and 0.09€ if manufactured by me which is not a viable long term option).

You'll find pictures at our backspace's blog (http://blog.maschinenraum.tk/bitcoin-vending-machine) and I am open to questions and feedback here.

PS. My dream project would be a electronic version 2.0 with the ability to also withdrawal cash for BTC. My initial research shows this would be possible using a mixture of open source software and hardware and some proprietary modules to deal with the physical money.
The real puzzle is how to handle authentication when depositing BTC. The other way around, you are authenticated because you just inserted a coin (no difference here between a mechanical or electronic machine).
If you could transfer BTC to an address of machine
a) we have to wait for the verification
b) we have no way to know you were the sender.
Best working (and usable) idea so far is to also use webwallet. You transfer yourself to a temporary wallet and give the URL.
I am shure there are better ways to this I haven't thought of.