Space trips with Blue Origin, the company founded by Jeff Bezos, can now be purchased using cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana.
In an innovative move that bridges the worlds of space exploration and digital currency, global payments firm Shift4 and Jeff Bezos' rocket and space exploration company, Blue Origin, have joined forces to accept cryptocurrencies and stablecoins for space flight purchases.
This partnership, which simplifies complex transactions for high-value purchases like suborbital spaceflights, taps into the growing digital currency market and makes space travel more accessible to crypto holders.
Jared Isaacman, a co-founder of Shift4 and an astronaut who traveled beyond Earth via SpaceX, is at the helm of this collaboration. Shift4's payment technology handles the conversion and processing of digital asset payments directly, ensuring smooth and immediate transaction confirmation.
Acceptance of major cryptocurrencies and stablecoins such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, USDT, and USDC is part of the key points of this collaboration. Instant and secure payment processing through leading crypto wallets like Coinbase and MetaMask is also provided, offering a frictionless and secure transaction experience for booking space tourism flights priced at around $150,000 per seat.
Shift4 processes more than $260 billion globally in payments, as stated on its website. The firm's Head of Crypto, Alex Wilson, believes that crypto and stablecoins will become increasingly popular for high-end purchases, benefiting both consumers and merchants financially.
Blue Origin requires a minimum deposit of $150,000 for space flights. The first-ever seat on Blue Origin's New Shepard spacecraft was auctioned off in 2021, securing a winning bid of $28 million from Justin Sun, a crypto billionaire and Tron founder. Justin Sun completed his space trip with Blue Origin last week.
This partnership reflects an innovative extension of commerce beyond Earth. Shift4's payment infrastructure enables the crypto purchases for Blue Origin, supporting the company's mission to modernize purchasing experiences and reach new customer bases in the crypto community.
It's worth noting that Jared Isaacman was nominated by President Donald Trump to become the NASA administrator, but his nomination was later pulled. Shares of Shift4 (FOUR) finished Monday up 1.68% to $82.98.
Blue Origin is not new to accepting cryptocurrencies. In October, Shift4 rolled out global crypto payments functionality, enabling merchants to accept cryptocurrencies seamlessly. This move by Blue Origin further solidifies the growing acceptance of cryptocurrencies in mainstream commerce.
[1] Shift4 Press Release: Shift4 and Blue Origin Partner to Accept Cryptocurrencies for Space Flights [2] Shift4 Press Release: Shift4 Enables Cryptocurrency Payments for Blue Origin's Space Flights [3] Blue Origin Press Release: Blue Origin Accepts Cryptocurrencies for Space Flight Purchases [4] Shift4 Website: Shift4 Crypto Payments [5] Blue Origin Website: Blue Origin Crypto Payments for Space Flights
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