TLDR
- Nvidia-backed Starcloud intends to deploy Bitcoin mining ASICs aboard its upcoming spacecraft scheduled for late 2026
- Company CEO Philip Johnston notes ASICs cost approximately $1,000 per kilowatt compared to $30,000 for GPUs, offering significant cost advantages
- The startup has submitted FCC applications to operate a massive 88,000-satellite constellation for space-based data processing powered by solar arrays
- Johnston predicts Bitcoin mining operations will ultimately migrate to space environments due to terrestrial energy constraints
- Current Bitcoin mining difficulty has declined 7% since reaching peak levels in November, providing miners with modest relief
A US-based startup called Starcloud has announced plans to deploy Bitcoin mining equipment in Earth’s orbit within the coming year, potentially securing its position as the pioneer in extraterrestrial cryptocurrency mining.
Company CEO Philip Johnston revealed the ambitious initiative during a Thursday video conversation with HyperChange, subsequently validating the announcement via social media posts over the weekend.
According to Johnston, Starcloud intends to equip its second orbital vehicle with Bitcoin mining ASICs—specialized application-specific integrated circuits designed exclusively for cryptocurrency mining. The spacecraft deployment is currently targeted for the latter part of 2026.
Established in the opening months of 2024, Starcloud’s mission focuses on constructing orbital data processing facilities to address the escalating power requirements driven by artificial intelligence applications.
The company achieved a significant milestone in November 2025 by successfully launching a satellite equipped with an Nvidia H100 GPU into space. This marked the inaugural deployment of such advanced graphics processing hardware in an orbital environment. Johnston subsequently disclosed that one of the five GPUs aboard that satellite had encountered responsiveness issues prior to liftoff.
Starcloud has additionally submitted regulatory documentation to the FCC requesting authorization for an extensive satellite network comprising 88,000 units. These orbital data centers derive their operational power predominantly from solar energy sources.
Why ASICs Make More Sense in Space Than GPUs
Johnston contends that Bitcoin mining equipment presents distinct advantages over AI GPUs for space-based operations, primarily from an economic standpoint.
“A 1-kilowatt B200 chip, it might cost $30,000. A 1-kilowatt ASIC is like $1,000,” he explained. This represents approximately 30 times lower cost per kilowatt for ASICs versus GPUs.
He emphasized that Bitcoin’s present power consumption—hovering around 20 gigawatts on a continuous basis—creates sustainability challenges for maintaining all mining infrastructure on our planet indefinitely.
Nevertheless, Johnston conceded that the financial viability of space-based Bitcoin mining remains unproven. Mining profitability can deteriorate rapidly as more advanced, energy-efficient equipment enters the market.
Starcloud isn’t pursuing this concept in isolation. Another venture, Intercosmic Energy, has similarly been developing space-based Bitcoin mining capabilities.
Bitcoin Mining Context
Bitcoin’s market value has declined approximately 48% from its peak of $126,080 achieved on October 6, 2025, applying pressure to mining operation profit margins.
Despite this, mining difficulty has decreased 7% from a November record of 155.9 trillion units to roughly 145 trillion, offering miners marginal relief.
In related developments, entrepreneurs Jose and Carlos Puente have introduced a concept for transmitting Bitcoin transactions to Mars via optical communication links and a novel interplanetary timestamping mechanism. They maintain that conducting actual Bitcoin mining operations on Mars would prove impractical due to communication signal delays between the two planets.
Starcloud’s second spacecraft mission, which will transport the Bitcoin mining ASICs into orbit, remains scheduled for launch in late 2026.
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