BitMEX, a leading bitcoin derivatives exchange, has announced that it will send the first physical bitcoin to the Moon in partnership with Astrobotic Technology Inc. and Bitcoin Magazine. The rocket carrying a physical bitcoin wallet is set to launch from Kennedy Space Center this summer, marking a milestone for space exploration and the bitcoin industry.
Bitcoin, engraved with a public address and private key, is loaded with 1 BTC and will become the first-ever financial asset sent into space. This endeavor symbolizes the exploration of Bitcoin use cases beyond Earth and opens up possibilities for future interaction with the token. Stephan Lutz, Interim CEO and Group CFO at BitMEX, was proud of the achievement, saying, “This is not just an achievement for BitMEX, but a breakthrough in human history.”
According to a press release sent to Bitcoin Magazine, the mission underwent rigorous testing and preparation to ensure the readiness of the Bitcoin wallet for spaceflight.
In addition to physical bitcoin, the text of the Genesis Block, the first bitcoin block ever mined, will be transported to the Moon as a tribute to the Satoshi Protocol. The Genesis block will be displayed on a metal plate with raw hex data and a hologram of the Bitcoin Magazine logo.