8/12/2025, 9:31:39 AM | en.cryptonomist.ch | news
Space tourism meets crypto as Blue Origin accepts Bitcoin, Ether, USDt
Blue Origin, the space company founded by Jeff Bezos, has partnered with Shift4 Payments to allow customers to purchase space flight tickets using cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), Tether (USDT), and USD Coin (USDC). The payment system, accessible via digital wallets like MetaMask and Coinbase Wallet, enables faster, more secure, and internationally accessible transactions, reducing bureaucratic hurdles and transaction times to an average of 2-3 minutes. Industry analysts note a 35% year-on-year growth in demand for space experiences paid with digital assets, with the integration marking a turning point in the monetization of the space economy. The move is seen as a response to growing interest from high-tech investors and digital innovators, and it aligns with broader trends in blockchain adoption in aerospace, which has grown by 40% over the past two years. The initiative also opens potential future use cases such as onboard blockchain transactions, NFTs, and decentralized services in space. Justin Sun, founder of Tron, is highlighted as an early adopter who paid over $28 million for a Blue Origin flight in 2021, symbolizing the convergence of crypto and space tourism.