[incomethax]

This could be an interesting model to do out in the open. Rather than covertly mine cryptocurrency, say that the app is free if you contribute hashes to a pool, or you can buy the premium version that doesn't.

Almost like the "slow" version vs the "fast" version of an app.

[clef]

Didn't this idea start with SETI@home in the 90's ?

[incomethax]

The idea of sharing computation cycles certainly did, however, converting those computation cycles into currency so it can fuel other "real" work is most definitely a by-product of bitcoin.

[Houshalter]

The economics make no sense. It costs more in electricity to run the program than to just pay for it directly. It's a trivially small amount.

[yuhong]

Or just mention it in the description and make it low priority using nice (in addition to doing it when plugged in).