The dream of exploring space is taking on a new dimension. It is now possible to pay for a space flight ticket in cryptocurrency. Thanks to a partnership with the payment platform Shift4 Payments, travellers can use Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), or stablecoins such as USDT and USDC.
Key takeaways
- Space flight tickets can now be paid for in cryptocurrencies and stablecoins.
- Shit4 Payments allows the use of popular wallets such as MetaMask and Coinbase Wallet.
- Justin Sun, founder of Tron, recently completed a 28 million $ space flight.
- The space experience allows for a few minutes of weightlessness beyond the Kármán Line (100 km altitude).
- Blockchain and cryptocurrencies continue to expand into innovative sectors such as space tourism.
Cryptocurrencies: a new passport to space
The initiative is part of the effort to democratise the use of digital currencies in exclusive sectors such as space tourism. According to Alex Wilson, Head of Crypto at Shift4, this development illustrates a broader trend: “We believe cryptocurrencies and stablecoins will become an increasingly popular payment method for high-end purchases, as this financially benefits both consumers and merchants.”
More than 75 passengers have already crossed the Kármán line, the symbolic boundary between Earth’s atmosphere and space. The integration of cryptopayments via wallets such as MetaMask or Coinbase Wallet could attract a clientele keen on new technologies and eager for an extraordinary experience.
Justin Sun, crypto pioneer of space tourism
This announcement echoes the recent trip of Justin Sun, founder of the Tron blockchain. The crypto entrepreneur participated in flight NS-34, dubbed “Small World”, on August 1, 2025. Alongside five other passengers, he reached an altitude of 100 km, crossing the space boundary for a few minutes of weightlessness.
The cost of the experience remains considerable: Sun had paid 28 million $ to secure a place on board, an amount revealed for the first time publicly. Back on Earth, he shared his emotion: “The earth is so small. We could almost see it all from the window. That’s when I realised the mission’s name was completely appropriate.”
This wasn’t the first time that the businessman, known for his media stunts, had associated his image with spectacular projects. But this space experience seems to have prompted him to a sincere reflection on the fragility of our planet.
Blockchain beyond Earth
The link between space exploration and blockchain is nothing new. In 2022, the Azuki project sent its character “Bobu the Bean Farmer” into space during a SpaceX/NASA mission. Meanwhile, initiatives such as Spacechain and Spacecoin XYZ are working on orbiting blockchain infrastructures capable of securing transactions directly from space.
The integration of crypto into payments related to space tourism thus illustrates the convergence of two rapidly expanding sectors: the digital economy and outer space exploration.
Towards democratisation still a long way off
While paying for tickets in Bitcoin or Ethereum represents a symbolic step forward, space tourism remains reserved for a financial elite. Seat prices, ranging from several hundred thousand to several tens of millions of dollars, severely limit access to this unique experience.
However, this initiative demonstrates that cryptocurrencies, once confined to online transactions, are gradually establishing themselves in unexpected sectors. From art to luxury, and now even to the stars, they are establishing themselves as a legitimate means of payment, capable of supporting the most daring innovations.
Read also: Est-ce possible de voyager grâce à ses cryptomonnaies?
