Twitter Reacts To Jack Dorsey's Bitcoin Blockclock: How Does It Work?

Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey's strange clock-like gadget on Thursday’s congressional hearing on misinformation has caught the eye of netizens. But what exactly is it?

The device was prominently displayed over Dorsey’s right shoulder and didn't seem to be showing the time. The clock first displayed the number "1952," before switching to a six-digit number, CNN noted.

This initially sparked confusion and speculation. "The numbers on Dorsey's clock keep changing randomly and you know the conspiracy theorists are going to have a field day," one Twitter user posted.

However, other users pointed out that the gadget next to Dorsey's stacks of plain white plates and bowls was actually a "Blockclock."

"Jack's clock is actually a BlockClock, which shows Bitcoin prices and block info and is such a hilarious flex to have in your background during a Congressional hearing," one tweeted.

The Verge identified the gadget as the Blockclock Mini, the bitcoin clock box by cryptocurrency manufacturer Coinkite that costs $399.

The Wi-Fi-enabled device displays blockchain data, including bitcoin prices or the number of blocks on the blockchain. “Track prices from exchanges, see blocks as they are published by miners and connect Opendime to display balance, fiat value, and deposit QR codes,” a description on Coinkite’s store states.

The device was made to celebrate 10 years of bitcoin. Aside from allowing owners to choose their "favorite Fiat currency," the product can also simply be used as a clock.

Dorsey appeared to confirm this as well when he liked a couple of tweets that linked to the device's website during the hearing.

However, he was later called out by Rep. Kathleen Rice of New York for tweeting during the hearing, in which Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Google CEO Sundar Pichai also testified, TechCrunch reported.

“Your multitasking skills are quite impressive,” remarked Rice in a tone that indicated that she was not at all amused by the CEO's behavior.

It is no secret that Dorsey is a cryptocurrency enthusiast. In fact, his Twitter bio simply reads: "#bitcoin." He also recently sold his first-ever tweet as an NFT for nearly $3 million. Dorsey's other company, Square, invested $50 million in bitcoin in October 2020 and added another $170 million in February.