Crypto Investor Funds SpaceX Flight with Historic Polar Orbit

Key Points

• Crypto Investor Funds SpaceX Flight with Historic Polar Orbit
• Crypto mogul Chun Wang fully funded and joined the flight
• The crew will conduct 22 space experiments, including X-rays
• F2Pool founder’s crypto legacy expands beyond Earth

In a bold fusion of crypto wealth and space innovation, crypto investor Chun Wang has propelled his legacy beyond Earth. On April 1, a SpaceX rocket lifted four private astronauts into orbit—on the first manned polar mission in human history.

The mission, Fram2, named after a legendary 19th-century Norwegian exploration ship, launched from Cape Canaveral at 1:46 am UTC. Leading the crew was Wang himself, a Maltese entrepreneur originally from China, best known for founding F2Pool, one of the oldest and largest Bitcoin mining pools.

Joining him were:

• Rabea Rogge, German polar scientist

• Jannicke Mikkelsen, Norwegian cinematographer

• Eric Philips, Australian Arctic adventurer

Together, they’ll circle Earth roughly every 90 minutes for 3–5 days, flying 265 miles (430 kilometers) above the surface—and making history as the first humans to orbit both poles.

This isn’t just a high-tech vacation. It’s a scientific venture with far-reaching impact.

Liftoff of Fram2 and the @framonauts! pic.twitter.com/XBL5juCnHQ

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) April 1, 2025

Merging Crypto Wealth with Scientific Discovery

Wang’s rise in the blockchain world is nothing short of impressive. He co-founded F2Pool in 2013, one of China’s earliest Bitcoin mining collectives. Today, it stands as the fourth-largest globally, contributing nearly 10% of the Bitcoin network’s hash rate.

In 2018, Wang launched Stakefish, a leading Ethereum staking platform with over 2,000 active validators. His reputation has grown steadily, putting him alongside other prominent figures reshaping the crypto industry, such as Michael Saylor, whose MicroStrategy Bitcoin acquisition continues to make headlines.

But Wang’s ambitions clearly extend beyond blockchain.

Onboard the SpaceX Dragon capsule, the team will conduct 22 experiments focused on life sciences, health, and sustainable tech. A few key highlights include:

• The first X-ray taken in space

• Studying the viability of growing mushrooms in microgravity

• Research into the long-term effects of space travel on human health

The outcomes could be critical in shaping future missions to the Moon and Mars, particularly as world powers and private entities race to expand humanity’s presence beyond Earth.

This mission also echoes a growing trend of crypto billionaires funding frontier science, showing how the industry’s wealth now influences sectors far beyond finance.

Chun Wang (right) onboard the SpaceX Dragon capsule with Jannicke Mikkelsen (center-right), Rabea Rogge (center-left) and Eric Philips (left). Source: SpaceX – Techtoken

Crypto’s Influence Is Reaching New Frontiers

This flight isn’t happening in a vacuum. It mirrors how crypto figures are becoming major players in other global arenas. For instance, Donald Trump’s shift toward Bitcoin mining signals growing political interest in blockchain infrastructure in the U.S.

Meanwhile, back on Earth, the industry is grappling with regulatory efforts, like California’s proposed Bitcoin Rights Bill, which could impact over 39 million people. On the flip side, the sector continues to face cyber threats, such as the Crocodilus Android malware targeting crypto wallets, and exploits like the Sir Trading hack post-Dencun upgrade.

Dragon’s hatch is closed, all communication and suit checks are complete, the seats are rotated, and the @framonauts are ready for launch! pic.twitter.com/GLD3FruHQI

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) April 1, 2025

Wang’s mission isn’t just a victory for private space travel—it’s also a symbol of crypto’s maturing role on the global stage.

His flight shows what’s possible when blockchain success intersects with scientific ambition. As crypto entrepreneurs continue to break financial and technological barriers, the line between digital innovation and real-world impact is fading fast.

What started with decentralized finance is now influencing everything—from legislative policy and cybersecurity to the very future of space exploration.