Crypto Billionaire Chun Wang to Command SpaceX Mars Flyby

SpaceX named crypto billionaire Chun Wang commander of its first crewed Mars flyby during the live broadcast of Starship V3’s first launch attempt, which was scrubbed on Thursday.

The flyby will be a non-landing, human-crewed mission that will travel beyond lunar distance and last about two years before returning to Earth. SpaceX has not announced a launch window for the Mars flight or for an earlier lunar precursor mission. The schedule depends on Starship V3’s test performance; a second launch attempt was planned for Friday evening. If Starship V3 reaches orbit, SpaceX would set firm timelines for both the lunar and Mars flights.

Wang co-founded F2Pool in 2013 and accumulated his wealth through early Bitcoin mining and operating the pool. Hashrate Index estimates F2Pool controls roughly 10% of the Bitcoin network’s hashrate. Wang has retained ties to F2Pool while investing in private space ventures.

He financed and commanded Fram2, a 2025 private Crew Dragon mission that passed over both of Earth’s poles. He funded that flight in part by selling bitcoin and became the first Maltese citizen in space.

In a pre-recorded video from Bouvet Island, Wang described the Mars flight as intended to make the planet feel more reachable and said: “So it’s going to be a flyby mission of Mars.” He characterized the trip as preparation for future landing missions rather than a replacement for them.

SpaceX has not released a full crew list for the Mars flyby. The company has tied the mission schedule to the Starship V3 test program; until Starship demonstrates orbital capability, specific launch dates remain open.

The announcement follows a pattern in which private individuals have used bitcoin sales or transfers to fund civilian spaceflights. After the recent Bitcoin halving, four mining operators now account for the majority of block production, a concentration that draws attention to large pools such as F2Pool.