In a thrilling milestone for both the crypto world and space exploration, Bitcoin mining pool co-founder Chun Wang made history by launching into Earth’s orbit aboard the SpaceX Fram2 mission. This wasn’t just any ordinary mission—Wang, an early bitcoiner who began mining in 2011, took the helm as Mission Commander of the mission he funded, marking a groundbreaking moment for both technology and cryptocurrency.
From Bitcoin Miner to Space Commander
Chun Wang, a Chinese-born Maltese entrepreneur, co-founded F2Pool, one of the largest Bitcoin mining pools, and the validator service Stakefish. While many know him for his work in crypto, this week he made headlines for a completely different reason—becoming the first known bitcoiner to travel into space.
On Monday night, SpaceX successfully launched the Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, sending the Dragon Resilience spacecraft into a polar orbit. This made Wang and his fellow crew members the first humans to orbit over Earth’s polar regions. They traveled at an astonishing speed of 27,589 km/h, at an altitude of 435 km, for the first-ever view of the poles from space.
Wang celebrated the milestone by sharing on social media, “Today, we become the 681st humans to fly above the Kármán line, and the 626th to orbit the Earth.” Fun fact: this flight also marked his 1,000th personal journey—a true pioneer in both tech and travel.
The Fram2 Mission: More Than Just a Space Trip
Wang wasn’t alone on this historic flight. Alongside him were cinematographer Jannicke Mikkelsen, electrical engineer Rabea Rogge, and polar explorer Eric Philips. This four-person crew embarked on a multi-day mission to conduct 22 groundbreaking research experiments. The goal? To advance humanity’s capabilities for long-duration space exploration and gain valuable insights into human health in space.
Some of the exciting experiments include taking the first-ever x-ray in space, conducting muscle and skeletal studies, and even growing mushrooms in microgravity. Upon returning, the crew plans to exit the Dragon spacecraft without medical assistance, helping researchers assess how astronauts perform tasks after time in space.
SpaceX and Bitcoin: A Surprising Connection
But this story doesn’t just end with Wang. SpaceX itself has ties to cryptocurrency, with Elon Musk confirming in 2021 that the company holds Bitcoin on its balance sheet. While SpaceX is known for its rockets, Musk revealed that the private firm also owns significant holdings in Bitcoin, along with Ethereum and Dogecoin.
In fact, blockchain analytics firm Arkham recently discovered that Tesla and SpaceX together hold nearly 20,000 BTC—worth around $1.7 billion. So, it seems that both the CEO of SpaceX and the company’s mission commander have a shared interest in the future of cryptocurrency.
Why It Matters
Chun Wang’s journey into space is more than just a personal achievement—it symbolizes the powerful intersection of cryptocurrency and space technology. With figures like Wang and Musk pushing boundaries in both fields, the world is seeing the rise of a new era where space exploration and blockchain technology coexist, paving the way for exciting advancements in both sectors.
This launch is a reminder that innovation in tech can take us beyond the Earth’s atmosphere, where the possibilities for both humanity and cryptocurrency are limitless. As we watch the stars, we might just be witnessing the beginning of an even greater leap forward.
So next time you think of Bitcoin, don’t just think about mining or trading. Think of it as a key to unlocking the future—one that’s literally out of this world. 🌌
