Blue Origin Embraces Crypto Payments for Space Travel in Partnership with Shift4

Digital assets have transcended the corridors of financing, entering the realm of space exploration. In a recent update, Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin has joined forces with American firm Shift4 Payments to offer crypto payment services for expeditions to outer space.

Shift4 Enables Crypto Payments for Space Travel

As per the Monday disclosure, Blue Origin’s new space tickets can be purchased using Bitcoin, Ethereum, or Solana. Tether’s USDT and Circle’s USDC are the two stablecoins approved for use by the space exploration agency. Customers can also make payments directly from Coinbase or MetaMask wallets. 

Weighing in on the recent development, Shift4 CEO Taylor Lauber expressed delight over the firm’s role in extending commerce beyond the borders of Earth. Shift4’s head of crypto, Alex Wilson, noted that crypto assets, including fiat-pegged coins, will continue to grow in popularity, potentially becoming a high-end medium of exchange.

Crypto is now a $4 trillion asset class, and the sky is the limit.

Alex Wilson, Head of Crypto at Shift4

Shift4 has become a top player in the U.S. integrated payment industry, with over $260 billion in financial transactions conducted. This figure was boosted by the introduction of a global payment feature in October 2024, which included both digital assets and other traditional payment systems.

On Monday, Shift4’s (FOUR) shares closed at $82.98, up 1.68%, despite dropping over 20% since the turn of the year.

Tron CEO Justin Sun Flies on Blue Origin, Calls for Protecting Earth

Blue Origin has taken actionable steps to advance its suborbital expeditions with New Shepard, a spaceship designed to reach altitudes of over 100 kilometers. New Shepard has already taken over 75 people past the Kármán Line—which is the globally accepted boundary between the Earth’s atmosphere and space.

Interestingly, Blue Origin has already had previous encounters with top personalities in the crypto industry. In 2021, Tron CEO Justin Sun paid $28 million, joining five other passengers to book a seat for a suborbital flight.

Last week, Sun boarded Blue Origin’s New Shepard on its NS-34 mission from West Texas. On his return, he emphasized how small Earth is compared to space and urged that every measure be taken to protect it.

Blue Origin revealed that the funds generated from ticket sales were donated to space-based charities to support kids pursuing STEM and art careers.

From Orbit to Blockchain: How Space Exploration Is Fueling the Next Crypto Frontier

The intersection between blockchain and space started way before Jeff Bezos’s recent orbital expedition.

Here are some notable events that centered around both blockchain and space in the past years:

• Spacechain achieved a milestone in 2020 by executing the first multisignature Bitcoin transaction from the International Space Station.
• Azuki’s “Bobu the Bean Farmer” NFT made a space trip as part of the SpaceX/NASA mission in 2022.
• Two years later, Spacecoin XYZ began work on the first-ever orbital blockchain network.

Experts believe that Blue Origin’s diversification into digital payments could further drive crypto adoption in other sectors. In addition, it could provide a blueprint for different firms in the space industry while bringing suborbital exploration to the doorstep of space enthusiasts.