BitMEX, a cryptocurrency derivatives exchange, is sending a physical bitcoin to the moon. The bitcoin wallet, shaped like a coin, will land on the lunar surface aboard the Peregrine spacecraft, marking the first financial asset to touch the moon, according to BitMEX.
Bitmex Sending Bitcoin to the Moon
Crypto derivatives exchange BitMEX made a notable announcement, revealing plans to “send bitcoin to the Moon on January 8 at 02:18 am ET from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.”
According to the announcement, a bitcoin wallet designed in the shape of a coin will be transported to the Moon aboard the Peregrine spacecraft, marking a historic event as the first financial asset to make contact with the lunar surface. Following an Earth orbit, the Vulcan rocket will propel Peregrine-1 on a lunar trajectory beyond Earth’s atmosphere. Subsequently, Peregrine-1 will activate and proceed through a seven-week lunar orbit phase. This ambitious initiative signifies an intriguing intersection between the cryptocurrency realm and space exploration
BitMEX disclosed that the landing of Astrobotics’ Peregrine-1 on February 23 could potentially mark the first Western soft lunar landing since NASA’s Apollo 17 mission in 1972 and the first commercially driven Moon mission. The physical bitcoin, weighing 43g and loaded with 1 BTC, will remain on the lunar surface with Peregrine, according to BitMEX.
Engraved with a public address (1MoonBTCixFH3XTrWRCbMpK23o74nQrA1Q) and a private key, this bitcoin is amongst 201 payloads, including those from governments, companies, universities, and NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative, slated to travel to the lunar surface. BitMEX views this initiative as a significant achievement in space exploration, representing a crucial step in creating a monetary system for a space economy. CEO Stephan Lutz emphasized the historical importance of this move, considering the bitcoin on the Moon as a time capsule capturing a momentous human innovation and technological advancement. Lutz envisions this as just the beginning of a new era.
Raksha, a seasoned journalist, specializes in crafting insightful narratives on blockchain and AI developments. With a keen eye for innovation, she distills complex topics into accessible stories, providing readers with a clear understanding of the dynamic intersection between these transformative technologies.
