Starcloud Plans First Ever Bitcoin Mining in Space

Starcloud CEO Philip Johnston reveals plans for orbital Bitcoin mining using 88,000 satellites and solar power to cut costs and boost efficiency.

If this project is realized, the company could become the first in the world to conduct crypto mining outside of Earth.

A New Generation of Orbital Data Centers

Starcloud CEO Philip Johnston announced on the social network X that the company intends to become the first to mine Bitcoin in space.

The idea is part of the company’s broader strategy to build orbital data centers designed to provide computing power for artificial intelligence and other intensive computational tasks.

In November, the company already launched a satellite equipped with an NVIDIA H100 GPU—the first chip of its kind to operate in space.

Why Bitcoin Mining Suits Outer Space

According to Johnston, using specialized ASIC mining devices for BTC could be one of the most efficient applications of space-based computing infrastructure.

He explained that ASIC devices are significantly cheaper than GPUs in terms of the power they provide.

“GPUs are about 30 times more expensive per kilowatt compared to ASIC devices,” Johnston noted.

For example, a GPU with a power capacity of 1 kilowatt can cost around $30,000, while an ASIC device with the same consumption might cost approximately $1,000.

Space Mining as a Future Industry

Company management believes that mining Bitcoin off-planet could evolve into a significant industry.

Currently, global BTC mining consumes approximately 20 gigawatts of electricity constantly, which Johnston suggests makes terrestrial mining increasingly less efficient.

Starcloud’s orbital data centers will be powered primarily by solar energy, potentially slashing electricity costs—one of the largest overhead factors in crypto mining.

The company plans a massive infrastructure of approximately 88,000 satellites, which will form a network of space data centers.

Interplanetary Bitcoin

The concept of extraterrestrial cryptocurrencies isn’t limited to mining. Tech entrepreneurs are already exploring the possibility of sending Bitcoin transactions between planets.

They suggest it is theoretically possible to send BTC to Mars in just about three minutes using optical links via space satellites and a new interplanetary time system.

However, experts believe that mining Bitcoin on Mars would be impractical, as communication latency between planets would create severe technical constraints.

Pressure on the Crypto Mining Industry

The push for space mining comes at a time when traditional mining of the leading cryptocurrency is under significant pressure.

The price of the cryptocurrency has dropped notably from its last peak, and miner margins have tightened. While Bitcoin mining difficulty has decreased slightly in recent months, providing some relief, companies continue to seek new ways to reduce energy and infrastructure costs—including looking beyond Earth’s borders.

As crypto infrastructure expands—from orbital data centers to new mining methods—secure digital asset storage remains vital for investors. A detailed look at leading solutions can be found in the guide to the best crypto wallets for 2026, which reviews popular options currently on the market.