Space tourism meets crypto as Blue Origin accepts Bitcoin, Ether, USDt

Blue Origins new crypto payment option joins a wave of blockchain ventures in aerospace, from NFTs minted in orbit to satellites running decentralized networks.

Jeff Bezoss Blue Origin has partnered with Shift4 Payments to let customers pay for trips to outer space in cryptocurrencies and stablecoins.

According to a Monday press release, Blue Origins New Shepard tickets can be purchased in Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), Solana (SOL), USDt (USDT), and USD Coin (USDC).

Blue Origin — which has flown more than 75 passengers past the Kármán Line, the internationally recognized boundary where Earths atmosphere ends and space begins — will accept direct payments from popular wallets like MetaMask and Coinbase.

Shift4 CEO Taylor Lauber said the company was “thrilled” to extend its vision of revolutionizing commerce beyond Earth.

Alex Wilson, head of crypto at Shift4, said crypto and stablecoins will likely become an increasingly popular way to pay for high-end purchases.

From NFT collectibles to blockchain infrastructure in space

Blockchain has already made its way beyond Earths atmosphere in both cultural and technical forms.

In 2022, Azuki made headlines in the nonfungible token community when its “Bobu the Bean Farmer” character was sent to space as part of a SpaceX/NASA mission, merging digital collectibles with real-world frontier exploration.

Beyond NFTs, some projects are building blockchain infrastructure in orbit. In 2020, the Spacechain completed what it described as the first multisignature Bitcoin transaction from the International Space Station, demonstrating how blockchain operations can be conducted entirely off-planet.

In December 2024, Spacecoin XYZ launched its first satellite to begin developing an orbital blockchain network aimed at extending decentralized applications beyond Earths surface. The project plans to build a tiered blockchain system anchored in space to support future decentralized economies.

Related: SpaceX moves $153M in BTC after three-year silence

Stratospheric blockchain connectivity

Blockchain-powered aerospace projects arent limited to space. Telecom startup World Mobile is launching a 5G network using hydrogen-powered drones flying at 60,000 feet to beam wireless connectivity over 15,000 square kilometers.

The system, developed with Indonesian telecom company Protelindo, integrates with World Mobiles decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN), which combines traditional telecom assets with independently operated nodes to extend service to underserved communities.

According to the company, the approach promises latency as low as six milliseconds — significantly outperforming satellites — and costs up to 18 times less per gigabyte.

Related: Inside ‘eccentric’ Ripple founders multibillion-dollar space station plan

Tron founders $28M trip to space

Blue Origins link to the crypto world also isnt new. On Aug. 3, Blue Origin carried Justin Sun, founder of the blockchain platform Tron, on its NS-34 mission from West Texas.

Sun paid $28 million for the seat in a 2021 auction and joined five other passengers on the suborbital flight, marking one of the most high-profile intersections of blockchain and space tourism.

According to Blue Origin, the ticket price was donated to 19 space-focused charities to inspire children to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM).

Upon return, Sun said, “Earth is so small, and it's our home. We definitely need to do whatever we can to protect it.”

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