Facecoin Edition Limited Edition

Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin use a "proof of work" system to secure their blockchains. Artworks are proofs of aesthetic work. Both kinds of work are regarded as purposeless or wasteful. Facecoin (2014) creates a simple blockchain in a browser and uses face recognition algorithms to find faces in clouds of data as its proof of work. This machine pareidolia functions as simple image-making, disappointing both the blockchain critic and the art critic equally.

Facecoin Edition (2023) makes Facecoin ownable as NFTs. Each owner’s Ethereum address determines the appearance and content of its proof-of-work blocks, creating a bespoke blockchain starting with their identity as its genesis.