BitMEX, a prominent crypto derivatives exchange, launches a physical Bitcoin to the Moon. This launch, taking place at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, is part of a collaborative effort involving BitMEX, Astrobotic, Bitcoin Magazine, and Oxcart Assembly. This mission, a blend of space exploration and financial innovation, marks the first Western soft lunar landing since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.
The centerpiece of this mission is a Bitcoin token, weighing 43 grams and embedded with 1 BTC, approximately valued at US$45,000 as of the launch date. This token is set to travel aboard the United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket, eventually making its way to the lunar surface via Peregrine-1, a commercial lunar lander, with an expected arrival on February 23, 2024.
This mission is not just a technological marvel but also a symbolic gesture. Stephan Lutz, CEO of BitMEX, views this as a foundational step towards a space-based monetary system, envisioning the Bitcoin on the Moon as a time capsule that encapsulates human innovation. Samuel Reed, the BitMEX co-founder, also emphasizes the mission’s inspirational potential, aiming to merge cryptocurrency and space exploration, thereby encouraging future technological breakthroughs.
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Why send Bitcoin to the moon?
This historic Bitcoin is one of 201 diverse payloads, including contributions from governments, educational institutions, and NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative. Uniquely marked with both a public address and a private key, this Bitcoin represents the first financial asset on the Moon.
BitMEX envisions a future where this lunar Bitcoin serves as an interactive beacon for the crypto community. By leaving Bitcoin on the Moon with Peregrine, BitMEX invites people, both on Earth and potentially in space, to engage with it, sending personal messages and satoshis, thereby extending the reach of cryptocurrency beyond our planet.
