BitMEX exchange is set to make history by sending a physical Bitcoin (BTC) to the moon. The Bitcoin will be among 201 payloads traveling to the lunar surface as part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative, involving governments, private companies, and educational institutions.
The mission is scheduled for January 8 at 02:18 ET, marking a collaborative effort among various companies. BitMEX aims to showcase the potential of cryptocurrency for off-world payments, highlighting its revolutionary role beyond Earth.
This event is historically significant as it represents the West’s first soft lunar landing since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. BitMEX plans to create a 43-gram coin, valued at $45,000, to symbolize Bitcoin’s physical representation in space.
The coin will be transported by the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Vulcan rocket and integrated into the Peregrine-1 commercial lunar lander. BitMEX CEO Stephan Lutz describes the lunar Bitcoin as a time capsule capturing humanity’s greatest innovations and technological advancements.
Additionally, the crypto ecosystem is adapting to space exploration, with the Dogecoin community funding a lunar mission in collaboration with Geometric Energy Corporation. The Doge-1 mission has also secured the necessary FCC licenses for execution.