SpaceX Taps Bitcoin Mining Pioneer Chun Wang to Lead Historic Mars Mission

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Chun Wang, co-founder of F2Pool, has been appointed Mission Commander for SpaceX’s inaugural commercial crewed spaceflight to Mars.
The expedition spans two years and features a lunar flyby followed by a Mars flyby before Earth re-entry.
Wang oversees approximately 11.3–11.5% of the world’s Bitcoin mining hashrate and possesses roughly $300 million in personal Bitcoin assets.
For the first time, SpaceX disclosed ownership of 8,285 Bitcoin and has filed confidentially for an IPO with a target valuation of $1.75 trillion.
Wang previously commanded Fram2, SpaceX’s inaugural crewed polar orbit expedition, in 2025.

Chun Wang, the co-founder of F2Pool and a prominent figure in Bitcoin mining, has been selected to command SpaceX’s inaugural human spaceflight mission to Mars—a groundbreaking two-year expedition into deep space scheduled for 2026.

Founder of One of the Largest Bitcoin Mining Pools to Join Two-Year Starship Mission to Mars

Wang Chun, co-founder of F2Pool, one of the largest Bitcoin mining pools, and commander of Fram2, will fly aboard Starship’s first human interplanetary spaceflight mission to Mars. The… pic.twitter.com/uLsWt09jvi

— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) May 22, 2026

SpaceX made the announcement Thursday, confirming that Wang will pilot the Starship spacecraft on an extraordinary voyage that extends beyond the Earth-Moon system, executes a flyby of Mars, and completes the return journey to Earth.

Wang, a Chinese-born entrepreneur who holds citizenship in Malta and St. Kitts and Nevis, established F2Pool in 2013 alongside co-founder Shixing Mao. The mining operation currently manages between 11.3% and 11.5% of the worldwide Bitcoin hashrate. Wang’s individual Bitcoin portfolio is valued at more than $300 million.

Prior to the Mars expedition, Wang is scheduled to participate in SpaceX’s inaugural commercial crewed lunar flyby aboard Starship. This week-long mission will take him approximately 125 miles from the Moon’s surface, accompanied by Dennis and Akiko Tito.

This won’t mark Wang’s debut in space travel. He commanded the Fram2 mission in 2025, which represented SpaceX’s first crewed polar orbit flight.

An Ambitious Two-Year Expedition Through Deep Space

The Mars expedition will extend across a full two-year period. The astronauts will venture beyond the Earth-Moon system, execute a high-altitude flyby of Mars, and navigate a sophisticated trajectory back to Earth.

The mission will utilize SpaceX’s advanced Starship V3 platform. This enhanced spacecraft features vacuum-jacketed header feed lines, sophisticated high-voltage cryogenic recirculation technology, and 60 specially designed avionics units with the capacity to manage up to 9 megawatts of maximum power output.

The astronauts will confront significant challenges throughout the mission. These encompass equipment wear and tear, cryogenic fuel management in the depths of space, and prolonged radiation exposure spanning 24 months.

Wang and his fellow crew members are also responsible for gathering biomedical information. This encompasses behavioral health monitoring and recording the first-ever human X-ray imagery captured in microgravity conditions.

This information will enable SpaceX to refine Starship for quick turnaround operations and strategize upcoming missions. Elon Musk’s ultimate vision involves transporting up to one million individuals to Mars.

“After we come back from Mars, we will have the opportunity to take some real photos, especially of Mars,” Wang said in a SpaceX video. “Mars will no longer be a distant place. It will become reality.”

SpaceX Reveals Bitcoin Portfolio and IPO Strategy

The Mars mission revelation arrives during a pivotal period for SpaceX. The aerospace company has submitted a confidential IPO filing with ambitions for a valuation exceeding $1.75 trillion, which would establish a new record.

SpaceX has also made its first public revelation of its Bitcoin portfolio. The company currently possesses 8,285 Bitcoin.

Since 2020, SpaceX has successfully transported 78 crew members to and from space throughout 20 missions. Seven of these were dedicated commercial or private astronaut expeditions.

Neither the lunar nor Mars missions have confirmed launch dates at this time.

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