đ Bitcoin Blasts Off with Jeff Bezos: Crypto Meets Space Tourism in Historic Deal
Forget mooningâBitcoin's literally going orbital. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos just partnered with crypto's flagship asset to pioneer the first space tourism payments system. Blue Originâs next passenger? Satoshiâs brainchild.
Zero-gravity transactions incoming
Bezosâ space venture will accept BTC for lunar joyrides by 2026âbecause nothing says 'hedge against inflation' like a ticket priced in volatile crypto. Passengers can now HODL while floating past the KĂĄrmĂĄn line.
The ultimate escape velocity play
This isnât just a PR stunt. With traditional finance still stuck in Earthâs gravity well, crypto continues its relentless expansion into new frontiers. Wall Street analysts predict space-bound Bitcoin transactions could hit $2B annually by 2030âassuming the rockets and the crypto markets both stay airborne.
One small step for crypto, one giant middle finger to legacy finance.
Blue Originâs Crypto Spaceflights
Space travel has often fascinated people in the crypto scene; crypto firms have contributed to space communications research, multiple companies have funded satellites with token sales, and Elon Musk even owns a spaceflight company.
Today, Jeff Bezosâ Blue Origin is deepening these worldsâ intersection by allowing Bitcoin payments for spaceflights:
âStarting today and powered by Shift4âs seamless payments technology, consumers can pay with popular cryptocurrencies and stablecoins like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, USDT and USDC for trips to space aboard Blue Originâs New Shepard. Customers will also have the option to connect popular wallets like Coinbase and MetaMask,â Blue Origin claimed.
Blue Origin, founded by Jeff Bezos in 2000, has already had a few notable intersections with the crypto industry. Earlier this month, TRON founder Justin Sun completed a trip beyond the KĂĄrmĂĄn line after securing passage in 2021.
The last crypto executive to fly to space used SpaceXâs rockets, so this event increased Bezosâ firmâs notoriety.
Bitcoin To The Moon â Literally
Shift4, Blue Originâs partner in this enterprise, has a history of facilitating crypto transactions. It acquired The Giving Block in 2022 and partnered with chainlink and Mastercard to increase cardholdersâ Web3 access this June.
With its support, international travelers can immediately book spaceflights on any day or time.
Ultimately, this does seem more like a gimmick than a true use case. Blue Origin flights cost around $28 million, and TradFI institutions have plenty of ways to make transactions as convenient as possible.
Blockchain-based payment solutions wonât necessarily add significant ease of use for travelers.
However, even assessed as a publicity stunt, itâs a pretty noteworthy one. The crypto industry has long promised technological solutions to seemingly intractable human problems, and space travel naturally shares this vision.
Thanks to Blue Origin, bitcoin and other cryptoassets might get a chance to emphasize that connection.