Category: Vending Machine Location

Back in 2016, MIT’s Media Lab installed a quirky vending machine that’s become a bit of tech lore: it exclusively stocked Soylent (the meal-replacement drink/shake) and accepted payments only in Bitcoin via a scannable QR code. This wasn’t your average snack dispenser—it was a forward-thinking experiment in crypto payments, perfectly suited to the lab’s innovative, future-of-food-and-finance crowd. No cash, no cards—just BTC for your nutrient-packed bottle.

What It Was

• Concept: A standard-looking vending machine retrofitted for Bitcoin, dispensing bottles of Soylent 2.0 (the vanilla or chocolate ready-to-drink version at the time). Users scanned a QR code with their wallet app, sent the exact BTC amount (adjusted for real-time exchange rates, around $2-3 per bottle), and grabbed their drink. It highlighted early crypto adoption in everyday scenarios, blending Soylent’s “food as tech” ethos with Bitcoin’s decentralized vibe.
• Purpose: Spearheaded by Media Lab folks (including director Joi Ito), it was a demo of seamless, low-friction crypto transactions. As one report quipped, it was “the vending machine that survives the robot apocalypse”—stocked with sustenance for coders who might not surface for days.
• Tech Twist: Powered by simple blockchain integration; no fancy Lightning Network yet (that came later in MIT demos). It even tied into broader lab projects on digital currencies.

When and Where

• Launch and Timeline: Debuted around mid-2016 (first buzz in July), after months of hype on social media. It was a semi-permanent fixture but likely phased out as tech evolved—by 2017, mentions faded, and no signs of it running today.
• Location: Right in the MIT Media Lab building (E14 on the Cambridge, MA campus), down the hall from project spaces. Easy access for students, researchers, and visitors fueling late-night hacks.
• Availability: Bottles were always limited (photos show it half-empty), emphasizing exclusivity over mass sales.

Impact and Legacy

This machine sparked viral chatter for symbolizing a dystopian-yet-cool future: crypto-fueled, Soylent-sustained efficiency. It inspired other Bitcoin vending experiments worldwide but stayed niche. Fast-forward to 2025: MIT’s still crypto-forward (e.g., their Lit software for Lightning Network payments), but you’ll find regular snack machines on campus now. Soylent? Widely available online or at MIT co-ops, payable in USD (or BTC via some retailers).

Other Vending Machine Applications

Even up at the mountain, convenience rules. This photo might just be showing the world’s highest placed vending machine.

📸 A Symbol of Japanese “Omotenashi” (Hospitality)

These near-summit vending options reflect a core Japanese value: anticipating needs, even in the most extreme places. For exhausted climbers battling altitude, thirst, and fatigue, the sight of a Vending Machine feels almost miraculous.

As one climber wrote:

“At 3 a.m., shivering in the dark, I bought a ¥700 canned coffee from a machine run by a hut with no running water. It tasted like heaven.”

Other Vending Machine Applications

In Japan, it’s quite typical to find vending machines on shrine or temple grounds, particularly:

• Near entrances or along approach paths (called sandō)
• At larger or more tourist-frequented shrines
• Offering drinks (tea, water, soda), snacks, or even omamori (protective amulets) or fortunes (omikuji)

These machines serve:

• Visitors and tourists who may be walking long distances
• Convenience without disrupting the spiritual atmosphere
• Revenue for shrine maintenance (many shrines are self-funded)

Example: Fushimi Inari Taisha (Kyoto) and Meiji Shrine (Tokyo) have vending machines near their grounds.

Other Vending Machine Applications