Spacecoin says it has successfully transmitted a blockchain transaction from Chile up into space via its nanosatellite, then down to Portugal, validating that cryptographic signatures can survive a orbital relay — a technical feat intended to demonstrate that blockchain communications might one day bypass ground-based internet altogether. The test, via the CTC-0 satellite built in partnership with EnduroSat, covered roughly 7,000 kilometers of relay and used the Creditcoin testnet to validate the data. The startup plans to deploy a cluster of additional satellites (CTC-1) in late 2025 to expand coverage, precipitating competition with incumbent satellite broadband providers like Starlink, but with a decentralization-based value proposition.
Sources: Crowd Fund Insider, Reuters
Key Takeaways
– The feat shows that cryptographic data (blockchain signatures) can be relayed via satellite networks and still pass validation, enabling blockchain protocols to operate independent of terrestrial internet paths.
– Spacecoin’s aim is to build a decentralized satellite-internet architecture (dubbed “Starmesh”) that competes on use of tokenized access rather than centralized control.
– Challenges remain: scaling coverage, managing latency and bandwidth, securing ground infrastructure, and proving economic viability against large incumbents like Starlink.
In-Depth
Spacecoin’s recent demonstration marks a potentially pivotal moment in the convergence of blockchain and space communications. By beaming an encrypted transaction from a ground station in Punta Arenas, Chile up to its nanosatellite CTC-0, and then down to a receiving station in the Azores, Portugal, the company has shown that cryptographic integrity need not be impaired by passing through orbital relay. The transaction was validated on the Creditcoin testnet, confirming that digital signatures remained intact even after traversing spaceborne channels. This test covers around 7,000 km in total path length, making it a compelling proof of concept for space-based blockchain networks.
At its core, Spacecoin’s vision is to build a truly decentralized satellite internet infrastructure — one in which users don’t depend on monolithic service providers to connect. Instead, the network is envisioned as “permissionless connectivity,” where data and transaction routing may hop through satellites in a mesh fashion, secured via cryptographic mechanisms. Its approach contrasts sharply with the vertically integrated model used by SpaceX’s Starlink, which controls both the launch infrastructure and network operations. As of now, Starlink has deployed more than 8,000 satellites and garnered millions of subscribers. Spacecoin is attempting to occupy a niche by promising censorship resistance, tokenized access, and openness to participation by developers, telecom firms, NGOs, and infrastructure partners.
The demonstration was enabled via partnership with EnduroSat, which provided the satellite platform. The test proves that the physical relay is possible, but it leaves open many engineering and commercial questions. For instance, bandwidth over radio links is limited, latency is inherently longer than ground fiber, and demand for real-time bandwidth (video, streaming, etc.) may exceed what a small constellation can deliver. Also, security challenges loom: ground station operations must be hardened against jamming, spoofing, or interception; coordination of frequencies across international jurisdictions is nontrivial; and scaling from one satellite to a functioning network with continuous coverage demands substantial capital and logistically complex deployment.
Furthermore, for users to adopt such systems, the cost and usability must compete favorably with terrestrial alternatives in many markets. While Spacecoin targets underserved or censored regions as early adopters, the economics of satellite deployment, maintenance, and ground terminal infrastructure may push costs upward. Competing in the satellite broadband market also means contending with incumbents who already benefit from scale, established customer bases, and integrated supply chains.
Still, Spacecoin’s achievement is meaningful: it proves the feasibility of routing blockchain data beyond Earth, and it adds momentum to the argument that future decentralized internet infrastructure might float above us. Should the company follow through on launching its CTC-1 cluster in late 2025 and expand to inter-satellite handoffs, we may see a new frontier in which connectivity and financial infrastructure coexist in orbit. The ultimate test will lie not just in technical validation, but in sustainable deployment, security robustness, and adoption in real use-case contexts.