A bitcoin wallet was sent to space and live streamed online

On August 30, 2016, in a bid to raise awareness about Bitcoin and demonstrate its capabilities as the leading digital currency, Genesis Mining embarked on a unique promotional campaign. The company decided to send Bitcoin into space, a concept inspired by the Bitcoin community’s aspirational catchphrase “to the moon,” which reflects the hope for Bitcoin’s value to reach astronomical heights.
 

The mission involved the launch of a weather balloon from Sheffield, England, carrying a 3D printed Bitcoin and a Bitcoin wallet. The initial goal was to surpass the Armstrong Limit, which is the altitude beyond which humans cannot survive without a pressure suit, set at 20 kilometers above sea level.
 

As the weather balloon ascended, the team at Genesis Mining successfully conducted two Bitcoin transactions. The first transaction was sent when the balloon reached 20 kilometers, officially marking the entry of Bitcoin into near space. Not content with this achievement, the team aimed for a higher altitude. At the optimal height of 34 kilometers, they sent the second Bitcoin transaction, pushing the boundaries of what was considered possible for bitcoin transactions.