SpaceChain Announces Ethereum Technology in Space

SpaceChain announced that its blockchain-enabled payload has been launched into space, the first demonstration of Ethereum technology integration into its hardware on the International Space Station (ISS).

SpaceChain, founded in 2017 working towards building ‘the New Space Economy’, launched this payload on June 3rd from NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and will be installed at the ISS. This mission was made possible by Nanoracks, an organisation providing commercial access to space for small research payloads.

SpaceChain’s Blockchain Plan for Space

Nanoracks and its Space Act Agreement with NASA marks SpaceChain’s fourth blockchain payload launch into space. Nexus Inc., a tech and innovation company focused on developing blockchain, financial technology, and the Internet of things (IoT, will be the first SpaceChain customer to have direct access to its service.

Once installed and activated, the space node will enable SpaceChain customers to enhance their blockchain capabilities for enterprise business and fintech applications. It will also allow for the performing of highly secure on-orbit Ethereum multi-signature transaction services, with data uplinked and downlinked directly through a dedicated space encrypted communication network.

The security and remoteness of space infrastructures ensure the independence of Ethereum contact operations from hubs set up on Earth, providing more efficient smart contract operation and greater application scenarios. It is fully commercialized and supports the ‘space-as-a-service’ adoption among organisations that are looking to address land-based infrastructure concerns that inhibit blockchain development.

SpaceChain founder Zee Zhang said, “We are thrilled in bringing the Ethereum platform to space and validating why a decentralized satellite infrastructure created with space technologies is vital to realizing the full potential of blockchain applications”.

Zheng also said “We launched a payload for bitcoin back in 2019 and today we are launching our second-generation payload with Ethereum. Bitcoin and Ethereum represent the two biggest ecosystems in the blockchain industry. With Ethereum’s smart contract platform running in outer space, it enables us to fortify blockchain applications and transactions with enhanced security and immutability, and allows more users and developers to get involved with our technology.”

Jeff Garzik, SpaceChain co-founder and CTO said, “Running Ethereum in space provides enhanced security and immutability for developing decentralized applications and transacting digital assets, which is pivotal to advancing the adoption of Enterprise Ethereum among organizations”. He also said, “Ethereum and blockchain technologies are decentralized by nature. The integration of technologies can help address security and vulnerability issues facing centralized land-based servers on Earth, and unfurl new and exciting opportunities for other commercial use cases.”

SpaceChain is a member of the Enterprise Ethereum Alliance (EEA), the world’s largest open-source blockchain initiative that enables organizations to adopt and use Ethereum technology in their daily business operations.