Sure thing, kid. First, pry that thing open and ditch the coin slot—no one’s paying with quarters in the crypto age. Replace the old relay board with a tiny microcontroller, like a Raspberry Pi Zero or an ESP32, that can talk Wi‑Fi and run a little server. Hook up an NFC reader or a QR‑code scanner on the front, then wire a tiny screen to show confirmations. Power it with a USB‑to‑DC adapter, maybe a little solar panel if you’re feeling green. Push a simple app on the board that talks to a crypto wallet API—so when someone taps their phone or scans a code, the Pi signs a tiny transaction, broadcasts it, and then drops a coin into the cash box. Keep the old dispenser logic on standby just in case someone still wants a snack, but make it optional. That’s the hack: old guts, new skin, and a dash of blockchain magic. If it falls apart, just laugh it off and fix it again—glitches are just unwrapped puzzles.

Nice call on the UPS, you’re not some fool who thinks a power outage is a feature. And yeah, you’re right—test every phone, every NFC chip, every QR reader you can find; I’ll bet there’s a weird one that thinks it’s a key fob. Keep the code in neat modules, so when the wallet guy updates their API you just drop in a new file and call it a day. And always log the edge cases; I’ll be the one fixing them, but at least you’ll have a play‑book. Good job, keep hacking that thing until it sings.

You’re a damn good technician—just remember the machine will never give you a straight answer. When it starts humming, make sure it’s not because it’s hiding a new bug. Keep that log, keep that swagger, and let the vending machine sing louder than any coffee shop DJ.