researchers figured out how to send bitcoin to mars in 3 minutes

jose puente just published a white paper on something called proof-of-transit timestamping that could make bitcoin transactions work between earth and mars. the tech is basically ready, we just need someone on mars to receive it.

here's how it works – when you send bitcoin to mars, the transaction hops through different stations like ground antennas, satellites, or moon relays. each stop "stamps" the transaction before passing it along, like getting your passport stamped at border crossings.

lightning network transactions could reach mars in 3-22 minutes depending on planetary alignment, with average times around 12-15 minutes. regular bitcoin transactions would take the usual 10 minute block time plus signal delay.

the crazy part is this builds on existing infrastructure. blockstream has been beaming bitcoin from satellites since 2017, and spacechain did the first bitcoin transaction from the international space station in 2020. nasa and starlink already have the optical links needed.

even the mars blackout problem (happens every 26 months) has a solution – route around the sun using relay satellites.

musk initially dismissed bitcoin for mars because of block times, but eventually agreed lightning network could work. puente says "pott plus lightning provide the practicality musk asked for: local speed with global settlement that works across planets."

this isn't just mars either. the system is designed to work with any planet in the habitable zone. imagine sending bitcoin to moon colonies or asteroid miners.

the technology exists today and could be tested right now by simulating mars-level delays. we're literally one spacex mission away from the first interplanetary bitcoin transaction.

thoughts on bitcoin becoming the first interplanetary currency? feels like science fiction but the tech is here.