Abstract

Blockchain technology is democratizing space by shifting control from traditional institutions to universal participation through decentralized ownership and governance.

Key projects include SpaceCoin building a satellite-based blockchain network (DePIN) and Copernic Space tokenizing real-world space assets and lunar domain names.

The TON blockchain pioneered "space democracy" by using on-chain voting to select a civilian astronaut for a Blue Origin flight, enabling global public participation in space travel.

Preface

From Bitcoin's first space transaction to tokenized lunar domain names, blockchain is driving a new decentralized space race, universalizing access and ownership.

As a child, I wanted to be an astronaut. I dreamed of floating in zero gravity, watching the Earth spin below me, and maybe one day walking on the moon. Although I never made it to space, my life later came full circle when, while working at AWS, a partner and I helped land the "Rover" on Mars.

That experience made me realize there are many ways to explore new frontiers, and today, one of the most exciting isn't through rockets, but through code. Blockchain, the technology that started with digital currency, is now expanding into Earth's orbit.

Space has always captured human imagination. For decades, it was the exclusive domain of governments, billionaires, and aerospace giants.

Today, a quiet revolution is bringing blockchain into everyone's daily life. Blockchain is moving beyond finance into Earth's orbit, laying the groundwork for a decentralized space economy.

What is Decentralized Space?

Decentralized Space is the fusion of blockchain and space exploration. It uses smart contracts, tokenization, and decentralized governance to allow anyone with a digital wallet to participate in the space economy.

Instead of relying on a few large institutions, Decentralized Space allows communities, creators, and investors to co-own and co-govern assets like satellites, payloads, and even lunar missions. It brings transparency and inclusivity to a long-exclusive field, creating an open network where access and ownership extend beyond Earth.

It combines space technology with Web3 principles of transparency, inclusivity, and verifiable ownership, creating an open network where anyone can contribute to humanity's journey beyond Earth.

According to PwC forecasts, space is set to become the first new trillion-dollar asset class of the 21st century, and the first that can natively exist on-chain.

Why is Decentralized Space Relevant to Bitcoin?

The origins of Decentralized Space trace back to Bitcoin. In 2019, SpaceChain's blockchain node launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket into Earth's orbit. That node executed a multi-signature Bitcoin transaction in space, marking the first time blockchain and Bitcoin transacted in orbit. Bitcoin recently hit an all-time high before falling back, just like a rocket!

This milestone proved blockchain could operate beyond Earth and independent of terrestrial infrastructure. It inspired a series of projects exploring how digital assets and decentralized systems could support future space missions.

The endeavor that started with Bitcoin has now expanded into a full ecosystem where tokens, domain names, and smart contracts connect people to space in unprecedented ways.

Three pioneering projects are leading this transformation:

SpaceCoin is creating blockchain infrastructure operated via satellites.

Copernic Space is tokenizing space assets and digital domain names related to lunar missions.

The Open Network (TON), the blockchain behind Telegram, enabled the selection of a real astronaut seat on a Blue Origin flight through on-chain voting.

Together, they demonstrate how the future of space can be more widely shared.

SpaceCoin and DePIN in Orbit: More Than Just Bitcoin

SpaceCoin's vision is simple yet radical. It aims to create a satellite network that transmits blockchain transactions directly through space, without relying on Earth's internet. In a recent test, SpaceCoin successfully transmitted data across continents using only a satellite link. This data wasn't just a signal; it was a blockchain record transmitted across orbits.

This concept falls under a new category called Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePIN). These projects use blockchain to power real-world infrastructure, not just purely digital systems. SpaceCoin's network could serve remote areas, censored regions, and space devices needing secure communication without relying on ground-based internet.

SpaceCoin Demonstrating How DePIN Operates in Space at Token 2049 - Sandy Carter

The implications are profound.

At Token 2049, chatting with Taekyung Oh, Founder and CEO of SpaceCoin, he told me: "Space is the ultimate decentralized frontier. With DePIN, we're turning satellites into nodes for a global network where connectivity, computation, and coordination transcend borders, and even the planet itself."

If blockchain can operate in orbit, systems for transactions, identity, and governance become unbound from Earth. Space-based blockchains could enable global connectivity resistant to censorship or natural disasters and prepare for an era of interplanetary communication. While challenges like satellite costs, regulation, and reliability remain, the concept of blockchain truly reaching for the stars is no longer science fiction.

From Bitcoin to the Moon: Copernic Space and the Tokenized Space Economy

If SpaceCoin provides the infrastructure, Copernic Space provides the ownership and financial infrastructure powering this new economy. The company connects real-world space assets to global capital markets via blockchain, pioneering the tokenization of missions, payloads, and even digital identities, transforming how space assets are represented, funded, and traded.

Did you know? Copernic Space has partnered with SpaceChain to build a commercial marketplace for tokenized space assets. This collaboration builds on SpaceChain's earlier work, which proved that blockchain technology, represented by Bitcoin, could operate off-planet.

Recently, Copernic Space partnered with Unstoppable Domains (my employer) to launch the .LUNAR domain extension, the first domain tied to a real space mission. Each .LUNAR badge will be sent to the Moon on a mission scheduled for 2026-2027. This makes each domain a tokenized real-world asset linked to space. Owning a domain means holding a verified digital identity that will physically travel beyond Earth.

Copernic Space has already demonstrated this model working in practice. Its commercialized rocket and first lunar mission earlier this year sold out, with over 2,000 tokenized payloads, including individuals and companies landing on the Moon, generating revenue and returns for early participants.

In conversation with Grant Blaisdell, CEO of Copernic Space, he told me: "Decentralization gives space back to humanity. For the first time, people everywhere can own a small but meaningful share in the space enterprise. By combining blockchain with space missions and projects, we're creating a transparent, participatory ecosystem where the next great discovery belongs to everyone, not just a handful of institutions."

Grant Blaisdell, CEO of Copernic Space, Pioneer of Decentralized Space - Grant Blaisdell

Copernic Space positions itself as a platform for buying, selling, and investing in tokenized space projects. This model opens the door for individuals to participate in the space economy through blockchain-based ownership. The idea is to turn space into an open, accessible marketplace where anyone can participate. It redefines our understanding of digital property. Instead of owning a website, you own a domain representing a rocket, satellite, or payload on a lunar mission.

But it's not just about collectibles. By allowing fractional ownership of real missions and infrastructure, Copernic Space makes participation in the space economy more transparent, liquid, and inclusive. While regulations around space ownership are still evolving, the shift is underway.

For the first time, space is becoming a marketplace for everyone, not just governments and large corporations.

TON, SERA, and the New Space Democracy

While SpaceCoin works on infrastructure and Copernic Space focuses on assets, TON is working on opening direct access to space. The TON Foundation, the organization behind Telegram's blockchain, has partnered with the U.S. Space Exploration and Research Agency (SERA) to launch Mission Control.

This initiative uses blockchain to select a real civilian astronaut for a Blue Origin flight via an on-chain voting system.

SERA has secured six seats on an upcoming New Shepard mission in 2026. Five seats are reserved for citizens from underrepresented nations, including India, Nigeria, Brazil, Thailand, and Indonesia.

The sixth seat will go to a global participant selected through a vote on the TON blockchain. Participants earn points and vote using Telegram's built-in TON wallet. Each vote is recorded on-chain, ensuring transparency and fairness.

Max Crown, President and CEO of the TON Foundation, Pioneer of Next-Gen Decentralized Space

"SERA isn't just another crypto project; it's truly one of a kind. It's more of an experiment exploring the sparks when crypto meets experience-driven, participatory culture," said Max Crown, President and CEO of the TON Foundation. "They're literally putting people in space, and you can participate just by having Telegram and a wallet. It's insane. I've always believed people don't focus on how the tech works, but on what the tech does and how it makes them feel. That's what matters. We're not talking about using tech to change lives; we're actually doing it. This is the moment blockchain transitions from just technology to experience."

This initiative is historic. It marks the first time blockchain technology directly influences who gets to go to space. Instead of relying on government committees or corporate sponsors, this program is open to the global community. TON calls it "space democracy," where users can win a trip to space by participating in a transparent, tokenized process.

The significance extends beyond a single mission.

It demonstrates how blockchain can extend inclusivity from financial systems to space exploration. TON's integration with Telegram gives it a massive audience, bringing billions closer to the dream of space. It's not just about the technology; it's about participation.

The Future Outlook for Bitcoin and Blockchain's Decentralized Space
The path ahead isn't smooth; regulation remains the biggest unknown.

Questions about who governs tokenized lunar assets and how liability works in orbit currently lack clear answers. Technical hurdles like satellite lifespan, launch costs, and communication latency will test every innovation.

Market adoption also hinges on proving real utility beyond the hype.

It also involves ethics. Space must not become another venue for inequality or exploitation. If blockchain opens up space participation, it must be done fairly and sustainably. Emerging industries need to balance ambition with responsibility.

Despite the challenges, the direction is clear.

The space economy is rapidly expanding, and blockchain is becoming part of its infrastructure. SpaceCoin, Copernic Space, and TON are demonstrating how decentralization can make this final frontier more open and inclusive.

This matters because it signals a shift in power and possibility. The technology that once made finance more inclusive is now doing the same for exploration and discovery.

As these projects evolve, we may soon witness the first blockchain transaction from orbit, the first domain name landing on the Moon, and the first astronaut selected entirely through decentralized voting.

The distance between cyberspace and outer space is shrinking. The blockchain and Bitcoin revolution has officially left Earth's orbit.