Crypto Tycoon to Command Historic Mars Flyby as Part of Private Space Venture
Chun Wang, co-founder of Chinese Bitcoin mining pool F2Pool, is set to command SpaceX's first crewed flyby of Mars. The two-year voyage will travel beyond the Earth-Moon system, swing past Mars, and return home.
No launch date has been set for the trip, but Wang has already purchased seats on two upcoming Starship missions. Before embarking on the interplanetary journey, he will join a weeklong commercial flight around the Moon with Dennis and Akiko Tito.
Wang is no stranger to spaceflight, having previously funded and commanded the Fram2 mission in 2025, which was the first crewed flight to orbit directly over Earth's poles. He sees this new venture as a way to keep Mars on SpaceX's agenda, noting that government competition will get humans to the Moon regardless.
Analysts see Wang's move as part of a wider pattern where early crypto founders are redirecting capital into adjacent fields such as artificial intelligence and aerospace. However, observers note that the immediate effect on mining looks limited, with hashprice, power contracts, and Bitcoin's price still being more important to the sector.
F2Pool was founded in 2013 by Wang and Shixing Mao during an era when home setups were still viable for Bitcoin mining. The operation grew into one of the network's most influential players and currently holds a hashrate share above 11%, ranking it among the largest pools in the industry.