Blue Origin Embraces Ethereum Payments as Crypto Enters Space Tourism

Cryptocurrency Ventures into the Space Industry

(Source: solidintel_x)

Recent reports indicate that Blue Origin now accepts Ethereum (ETH) as a payment method for space travel. This move extends cryptocurrency’s role beyond finance and investment, pushing it into the realm of premium commercial space services. It also signals that leading technology companies are increasingly recognizing the practical value of crypto assets.

Blue Origin’s Space Tourism: Current Landscape

By the end of 2025, Blue Origin is projected to have flown nearly 100 space tourists. Among them is Michaela Benthaus, the first engineer to travel to space using a wheelchair—a milestone that highlights the program’s achievements in both technology and inclusivity.

Each mission lasts approximately 11 minutes and reaches altitudes up to 105 kilometers, exceeding the Kármán line, the internationally recognized boundary of space. With ticket prices reportedly in the million-dollar range, space tourism remains an elite experience reserved for a select group of high-net-worth individuals.

Major Breakthroughs in the New Glenn Rocket Program

In addition to its space tourism operations, Blue Origin has achieved significant progress in rocket technology. By late 2025, the company successfully launched the New Glenn heavy-lift rocket, completing its first paid NASA mission by delivering two satellites to Mars. Even more significant, Blue Origin recovered the rocket booster after the mission, marking a major technological milestone and demonstrating its advancing expertise in reusable launch systems.

The Race and Gap with SpaceX

The New Glenn is designed as a heavy-lift launch vehicle, offering thrust comparable to SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy. Its flexible cargo bay underscores Blue Origin’s strategic vision for future large-scale space missions. However, with SpaceX already nearing 280 launches, Blue Origin still lags behind and is very much in a phase of catching up.

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Summary

From embracing Ethereum payments to achieving critical rocket milestones, Blue Origin is advancing on both business and technological fronts. Integrating cryptocurrency not only expands payment scenarios but also creates new opportunities where the space sector and the Web3 ecosystem converge. Whether Blue Origin can close the gap with SpaceX remains an open question.