Add artificial life extension to the list of things payable in cryptocurrency: an Arizona cryonics lab is taking donations in Bitcoin.
Donors to the Alcor Life Extension Foundation, a non-profit organization based in Scottsdale, can now make one-time donations in Bitcoin in any monetary amount using the company’s Bitcoin donation page, which is powered by popular cryptocurrency service Bitpay.
“The generosity of [Alcor’s] members and supporters…permits Alcor to do more than what would be possible with membership dues alone,” the company’s donation page says.
“Your generous tax-deductible donation will help us preserve the future for all of our members.”
The new donation option was promoted by Bitcoin-angel-investor Roger Ver on Twitter earlier in June.
“You can now pay for your own cryonic suspension with Bitcoin thanks to Alcor Life Extension Foundation!” he wrote, adding the hashtag #immortality.
It’s not surprising that a company dealing in cryonics, otherwise known as the science of freezing people in a state of biostasis in the hopes of resurrecting them using future technology, would deal in the currency of the future, and commenters on Ver’s tweet were quick to jump on the irony of the situation.
“I hope they use cold storage,” one jested.
In addition to making Bitcoin (or credit card, or PayPal) donations, cryonics supporters can help out by donating items directly to Alcor using their Amazon wishlist, which includes such items as a document scanner and disposable surgeon caps.