Argentina’s central bank hosts a live Bitcoin mining exhibit

Key Takeaways

The Central Bank of Argentina is the first central bank to feature crypto mining equipment in an exhibition.
The exhibition reflects a potential shift in the Central Bank’s stance toward digital assets and their integration into financial systems.

The Central Bank of Argentina (BCRA) has opened a groundbreaking exhibition, marking the first time an international central bank has hosted live crypto-mining equipment as part of an art display.

Titled Art, Artificial Intelligence, and the Future of the Economy, the exhibition showcases Bitcoin mining rigs alongside the iconic “Moneyballs”—spheres crafted from shredded currency—by artist and financier Alberto Echegaray.

The exhibition, which officially opened on October 31 at the BCRA’s Historical Museum, reflects the bank’s evolving stance on digital assets.

Echegaray, a pioneer in digital and crypto art, highlights the importance of exhibiting at a central bank, stating,

“No central bank has ever handled operational mining equipment, and it’s good for both art enthusiasts and those interested in economic and digital systems to see it.”

Echegaray’s work, designed to spark dialogue on currency dematerialization, includes spheres containing both virtual and shredded banknotes.

Among them is his most notable piece, the Moneyball, a 50cm-diameter sphere containing $1 million worth of shredded $100 bills. The US Treasury provided the out-of-circulation dollars, while local discarded pesos were sourced from BCRA’s own refuse.

Echegaray’s installations echo broader trends in tokenization and digital economies, with assets becoming increasingly intangible.

In addition to the mining rigs, Echegaray’s installation features spheres that connect virtual assets to real-time valuation data, encouraging visitors to ponder the changing role of money.

His work also delves into deeper socio-economic questions, critiquing society’s dependence on the dollar and the evolution of economic systems.

He foresees a future where cash becomes obsolete, predicting that in a not so distant future banknotes will only be found in museums.