Online Blockchain PLC (LON:OBC) surged on Wednesday following the soft launch of Freeloadr – its new app that rewards gamers with free games in return for their unused computer power.
Gamers generally don’t use all of the graphic computing power in their machines, something which is a valuable commodity in Bitcoin mining.
By donating ‘hash power’ – the speed at which mining machines operate – gamers earn Freeloadr points which can then be redeemed for games.
READ: Online Blockchain swings to a loss as cryptocurrency prices dive
Online Blockchain is pitching it as a win-win: the company gets extra computing power to help it mine Bitcoin, while gamers get the chance to earn free games.
“We want to use the power of the blockchain to add value to PC gamers and make it possible for them to get the computer game they want using the latent but unused processing power of their PC,” said chief executive Clem Chambers.
“FreeLoadr makes this possible for the current generation of gaming computers without the user needing to be a blockchain or programming expert - they just need to download the FreeLoadr software and run it and they are on their way to getting their first game.”
The app is currently in the testing phase and is only available on PC, although plans are in place to develop it for use by Xbox and PlayStation gamers.
Shares jumped 15.8% to 22p on Wednesday.