A Washington startup says the subsequent frontier in computing, and maybe Bitcoin mining, might orbit tons of of miles above Earth.
Bitcoin mining goes to area as Starcloud prepares to launch Starcloud 2 satellite tv for pc
Redmond-based area expertise and synthetic intelligence (AI) infrastructure firm StarCloud is shifting ahead with plans to find a knowledge heart in low Earth orbit, a plan that goals to harness the continual photo voltaic power and pure cooling properties of area, whereas additionally hinting at the potential for mining Bitcoin outdoors of Earth’s ambiance, PCMag stories.
The corporate launched StarCloud 1 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in November 2025, proving its idea for the primary time. For the primary time, a small satellite tv for pc the dimensions of a fridge is provided with 5 Nvidia H100 processors>
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The corporate is at present making ready a bigger monitoring satellite tv for pc. CEO Philip Johnston mentioned Starcloud-2, scheduled to launch in late 2026, will function a a lot bigger cluster of GPUs, together with specialised Bitcoin mining {hardware} referred to as ASICs (Utility-Particular Built-in Circuits).
“There’s additionally Bitcoin mining… we’re planning to have a Bitcoin mining ASIC within the second machine that launches later this 12 months,” Johnston mentioned in an interview with PCMag. “We expect we might be the primary to mine cash in area.”
This idea relies on two benefits distinctive to orbit. Satellites positioned in sun-synchronous orbits can obtain near-constant daylight, eliminating many of the night time cycles and climate disturbances that have an effect on solar energy era on Earth. On the similar time, the vacuum of area would act as a large warmth sink, permitting radiators to launch waste warmth immediately into area with out the usage of water-intensive cooling techniques.
Starcloud claims that this example has the potential to considerably scale back power prices. The corporate estimates that orbital information facilities can function at roughly one-tenth decrease power prices than conventional amenities, whereas decreasing lifetime carbon emissions as nicely.
To help that imaginative and prescient, the startup has filed paperwork with the Federal Communications Fee (FCC) in search of approval for a constellation of 88,000 satellites devoted to orbital computing infrastructure. Johnston outlined a long-term objective of constructing a 5-gigawatt orbital information heart supported by an enormous photo voltaic array spanning a number of kilometers.
Bitcoin mining is framed as an early take a look at case for the power mannequin. Mining {hardware} is less expensive than high-end AI processors and might monetize surplus energy generated by photo voltaic arrays in orbit.
ASIC mining machines usually value tons of to hundreds of {dollars} every, in comparison with tens of hundreds of {dollars} for superior AI GPUs. Mining primarily converts electrical energy into cryptographic calculations, making it a pure match for extraterrestrial energy era as a result of regular availability of photo voltaic power.
The thought of mining Bitcoin in area has been circulating for years, however StarCloud’s plan is among the first publicly disclosed {hardware} deployments aimed toward proving the idea. One other startup, Intercosmic Vitality, has proposed a roadmap for a solar-powered orbital mining system, however has not but begun working the {hardware}.
Declining launch prices have revived curiosity within the idea. Trendy rockets are steadily decreasing the associated fee per kilogram of payload they carry into orbit, making it extra sensible to deploy computing {hardware} and huge photo voltaic arrays on Earth.
On the similar time, the effectivity good points in mining {hardware} are slowing down in comparison with earlier than. Longer substitute cycles imply ASICs might be saved in use for longer durations of time, probably bettering the economics of working in area.
Regardless of the thrill, this strategy faces main hurdles. House {hardware} should additionally stand up to publicity to radiation, temperature fluctuations, and potential collisions with particles. Satellite tv for pc reliability additionally stays a priority, with one in every of Starcloud-1’s GPUs reportedly failing earlier than launch.
Regulators and environmental teams are additionally watching intently. Massive constellations elevate questions on orbital crowding and the danger of cascading particles occasions, generally known as Kessler syndrome.
Even throughout the expertise business, there stays skepticism about its near-term feasibility. Critics argue that sustaining high-performance computing techniques in orbit might pose logistical challenges that outweigh the power advantages, at the very least initially.
Nonetheless, curiosity in orbital computing is rising quickly. Firms like SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Axiom House have all outlined plans for orbital infrastructure that may help computing workloads.
Market predictions recommend that orbital title=”Study Bitcoin Mining” goal=”_blank”>Bitcoin mining is an illustration, not a vacation spot. By operating ASICs in parallel with AI {hardware}, the corporate hopes to exhibit that everlasting on-orbit solar energy can help each rising AI workloads and energy-intensive cryptographic operations.
If the StarCloud 2 mission is profitable later this 12 months, the primary Bitcoin mined in area might arrive prior to most anticipated, marking one other milestone on the rising intersection of area expertise and digital infrastructure.
Often requested questions 🛰️
- What’s Starcloud?Starcloud is a Washington-based startup that makes use of photo voltaic power to develop information facilities in low Earth orbit.
- Does Bitcoin mining really happen in area?StarCloud says its StarCloud 2 satellite tv for pc, scheduled to launch in 2026, will probably be outfitted with ASIC {hardware} designed to mine Bitcoin.
- Why mine Bitcoin in area?With fixed photo voltaic power and vacuum cooling, orbital computing may very well be less expensive and extra power environment friendly.
- When will the primary Bitcoin be mined in orbit?If the StarCloud 2 mission is profitable, the primary space-mined Bitcoin may very well be created as early as the tip of 2026.
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