hodler

22 May 2026, 02:40

F2Pool Founder Chun Wang to Command SpaceX Mars Flyby Mission

BitcoinWorld F2Pool Founder Chun Wang to Command SpaceX Mars Flyby Mission Chun Wang, the founder of F2Pool — one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency mining pools with roots in China — is set to command a crewed SpaceX flyby mission to Mars. The two-year journey will depart from Earth-Moon orbit, pass by Mars, and return to Earth, marking a significant milestone in both private spaceflight and the growing crossover between the crypto industry and aerospace ventures. Mission Overview and Timeline According to sources familiar with the planning, the mission is scheduled to launch within the next few years, pending regulatory approvals and final technical preparations. The spacecraft will use a trajectory that takes advantage of planetary alignments to minimize fuel consumption and travel time. The crew will spend approximately two years in space, with the Mars flyby providing a close-up view of the planet’s surface and atmosphere before the return leg. The mission is being organized under a partnership between SpaceX and a private consortium that includes Wang and other investors. While SpaceX has not officially confirmed the details, Wang’s involvement has been corroborated by multiple industry insiders familiar with the project. The mission is distinct from SpaceX’s broader Mars colonization plans, focusing instead on a flyby rather than a landing. Who Is Chun Wang? Chun Wang co-founded F2Pool in 2013, which quickly became a dominant force in Bitcoin and Litecoin mining. The pool has since expanded to support multiple cryptocurrencies and has been a key player in the mining ecosystem. Wang is known for his low public profile and technical acumen, but his interest in space exploration has been an open secret among industry peers. His net worth, derived from his stake in F2Pool and other crypto-related investments, is believed to be substantial enough to fund or co-fund such a high-profile mission. Wang’s role as mission commander suggests he will be directly involved in piloting the spacecraft and making critical decisions during the flight. While SpaceX has not disclosed the full crew manifest, Wang’s leadership experience in a high-stakes, technical environment aligns with the demands of deep-space travel. Implications for the Crypto and Space Industries This mission represents a notable convergence of two sectors often seen as futuristic and high-risk. The crypto industry has increasingly funded space-related projects, from satellite launches to lunar payloads. Wang’s command role could inspire other crypto entrepreneurs to pursue similar ventures, potentially accelerating private investment in deep-space exploration. For SpaceX, having a private individual with significant financial resources command a mission could open new revenue streams. The company has long aimed to make space travel accessible to private citizens, and this mission could serve as a proof of concept for longer-duration, crewed flights beyond Earth orbit. Challenges and Risks Deep-space missions carry substantial risks, including radiation exposure, life support reliability, and psychological stress for the crew. The two-year duration is significantly longer than any current private spaceflight. SpaceX’s Starship, which is expected to be the vehicle for this mission, has undergone multiple test flights but has not yet carried humans. The company will need to demonstrate the spacecraft’s safety and reliability before any crewed deep-space mission can proceed. Regulatory hurdles also remain. The Federal Aviation Administration and other international bodies will need to approve the mission’s safety plan. Insurance and liability frameworks for such a voyage are still being developed. Conclusion Chun Wang’s appointment as commander of a SpaceX Mars flyby mission marks a historic step for private spaceflight and underscores the growing influence of cryptocurrency wealth in cutting-edge technology. While significant technical and regulatory challenges remain, the mission represents a bold vision for the future of human space exploration. For readers, this story highlights how private capital and entrepreneurial ambition are reshaping what is possible beyond Earth’s orbit. FAQs Q1: When is the SpaceX Mars flyby mission expected to launch? The mission is expected to launch within the next few years, though no exact date has been publicly confirmed. The timeline depends on regulatory approvals and technical readiness. Q2: Will the crew land on Mars? No. The mission is a flyby, meaning the spacecraft will pass close to Mars but will not land. The crew will observe the planet from orbit before returning to Earth. Q3: How is Chun Wang qualified to command a space mission? Wang has a background in technical leadership and risk management from building and operating F2Pool. While he is not a professional astronaut, he will undergo extensive training provided by SpaceX to prepare for the mission. This post F2Pool Founder Chun Wang to Command SpaceX Mars Flyby Mission first appeared on BitcoinWorld .

21 May 2026, 16:30

Saylor: Tokenization Could Unleash Free Market for Credit and Yield

BitcoinWorld Saylor: Tokenization Could Unleash Free Market for Credit and Yield MicroStrategy (MSTR) founder Michael Saylor has argued that the true transformative power of tokenization lies in its ability to create a genuinely free market for credit formation and yield generation. Speaking on CNBC, Saylor outlined a vision where the tokenization of various securities would allow investors to naturally seek out the best credit conditions and highest yields, fundamentally altering how these financial metrics are priced across the entire asset market. How Tokenization Could Reshape Financial Markets Saylor’s thesis is that tokenization—the process of representing real-world assets as digital tokens on a blockchain—can remove many of the intermediaries and inefficiencies that currently distort credit and yield markets. By making a broader range of assets easily tradeable and divisible, investors could directly compare and choose the most favorable terms, rather than being limited to the offerings of traditional banks and brokers. This, he argues, would create a more efficient, transparent, and competitive marketplace. Potential Threat to Traditional Banks and Brokers The implications of such a shift are significant for established financial institutions. If credit and yield are priced in a more open, decentralized manner, the role of banks and securities brokers as primary gatekeepers could be diminished. Saylor’s comments suggest that tokenization could challenge their business models by reducing their control over the spread between borrowing and lending rates, and by offering asset owners direct access to global pools of capital. What This Means for Investors For asset owners, the potential benefits are clear: access to a wider range of yield-generating opportunities and potentially better credit terms. For borrowers, it could mean more competitive rates and less reliance on traditional credit scoring systems. However, the transition would also require new regulatory frameworks and infrastructure to ensure market integrity and investor protection. Conclusion Michael Saylor’s commentary adds a powerful voice to the debate over tokenization’s real-world impact. While the technology is still in its early stages, the vision of a free market for credit and yield represents a fundamental shift in financial thinking. Whether this vision materializes will depend on technological development, regulatory acceptance, and the willingness of traditional finance to adapt. FAQs Q1: What is tokenization in simple terms? Tokenization is the process of creating a digital representation of a real-world asset, like a bond, stock, or real estate property, on a blockchain. This makes the asset easier to trade, divide, and transfer. Q2: How could tokenization create a free market for credit? By allowing a wider variety of assets to be tokenized and traded on global platforms, investors can directly compare and choose the credit terms that best suit them, bypassing traditional intermediaries and fostering more competitive pricing. Q3: Is this a direct threat to traditional banks? Potentially, yes. If tokenization reduces the role of banks in pricing and distributing credit and yield, it could challenge their core profitability. However, many banks are also exploring tokenization to adapt and offer new services. This post Saylor: Tokenization Could Unleash Free Market for Credit and Yield first appeared on BitcoinWorld .

21 May 2026, 12:02

Finance Coach Explains Why XRP is the Real Solution for International Money Transfers

Finance coach Kamilah Stevenson has shared her perspective on why XRP plays a significant role in international money transfers, arguing that existing payment systems still face major limitations in cross-border transactions and currency conversion. In a video explanation, Stevenson compared XRP with Zelle, a popular U.S.-based digital payment service. While she acknowledged that Zelle provides fast transfers between banks, she stressed that speed alone does not solve the larger issue around international settlements and currency exchange. Stevenson explained that users cannot simply send funds through Zelle to recipients in countries such as Mexico or Germany and expect the money to convert into the local currency. According to her, the payment process still requires additional settlement mechanisms and currency exchange arrangements before the recipient can access funds in their domestic currency. She said many people focus only on transaction speed and overlook the settlement complications that still exist in the global banking system. Stevenson stated that even when a transfer moves quickly from one bank account to another, the challenge of converting one currency into another remains unresolved. Kamilah explains why ripple:native is the real solution for international money transfers "Zel is fast, but Zel can't transfer into a different currency." https://t.co/0E7cCq8fH6 pic.twitter.com/nvhle4Ty4N — Kamilah Stevenson (@iamkamstevenson) May 19, 2026 XRP Presented as a Liquidity Bridge During the video, Stevenson described XRP as a liquidity bridge designed to help financial institutions move value between currencies without needing to hold large reserves of foreign capital. She explained that international banks often need to keep substantial amounts of money locked in different currencies to facilitate cross-border payments. According to Stevenson, this creates inefficiencies because institutions must maintain dormant capital in multiple jurisdictions to support international transfers. Stevenson argued that XRP provides an alternative model. She explained that financial institutions can convert one currency into XRP and then quickly convert the XRP into another currency on the receiving side. In her view, this process reduces the need for pre-funded accounts and improves liquidity management for banks and payment providers. She emphasized XRP’s ability to serve as an intermediary in settlement as its major utility. Stevenson repeatedly referred to XRP as a “liquidity bridge,” stating that it allows money to move rapidly between currencies while reducing the friction commonly associated with international transfers. Focus Remains on Cross-Border Efficiency Stevenson also pointed out that XRP’s use case is primarily institutional rather than consumer-focused. She noted that the current banking infrastructure requires institutions to allocate large pools of capital in advance to support foreign transactions, something she believes XRP can help reduce. Her comments reflect long-standing arguments made by XRP supporters, who view the digital asset as a tool for improving cross-border payment efficiency . Advocates frequently claim that XRP can lower transaction costs, shorten settlement times, and reduce reliance on traditional correspondent banking systems. Throughout the video, Stevenson maintained that the key issue in international payments is not simply moving money quickly between accounts, but ensuring that funds can efficiently convert between currencies without delays or excessive capital requirements. She argued that this is where XRP provides value that traditional payment platforms currently cannot match. Disclaimer : This content is meant to inform and should not be considered financial advice. The views expressed in this article may include the author’s personal opinions and do not represent Times Tabloid’s opinion. Readers are advised to conduct thorough research before making any investment decisions. Any action taken by the reader is strictly at their own risk. Times Tabloid is not responsible for any financial losses. Follow us on X , Facebook , Telegram , and Google News The post Finance Coach Explains Why XRP is the Real Solution for International Money Transfers appeared first on Times Tabloid .

21 May 2026, 07:30

Soluna Buys out Dorothy 1B as Bitcoin-to-AI Campus Conversion Advances

Soluna (NASDAQ: SLNH) Holdings has acquired full ownership of another portion of its flagship Texas campus, continuing a broader effort to transform a bitcoin mining complex into an AI and high-performance computing site backed by owned renewable energy. This article first appeared in The Energy Mag. The original article can be viewed here. The Energy

21 May 2026, 03:00

Crypto Gains State-Level Support As South Carolina Bans Federal CBDCs

South Carolina is now one of more than a dozen US states that have passed laws protecting cryptocurrency rights — and it did so with almost no pushback. Governor Henry McMaster signed Senate Bill 163 on May 19, adding it to a growing stack of state-level digital asset laws that have quietly moved through Republican-controlled legislatures across the country. A Near-Unanimous Vote That Signals Shifting Ground The bill cleared the South Carolina Senate 38-1, a margin that says more than the law itself. Filed in January 2025, it spent 17 months working through the legislative process — passing the Senate in May of that year, getting reconciled with House amendments in April 2026, and landing on the governor’s desk this month. Senators Daniel Verdin and Matthew Leber sponsored the bill. It now adds a new Chapter 47 to Title 34 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, laying out one of the more detailed state-level crypto frameworks in the country. The law prohibits state government agencies from accepting or requiring payments in a central bank digital currency. It also bars those agencies from joining any Federal Reserve CBDC pilot or testing program. But the definition matters: the bill describes a CBDC as a digital currency issued directly by the US Federal Reserve or a federal agency. Privately issued stablecoins backed by legal tender or government treasuries — such as USDC — fall outside that definition and remain permitted under state law. What The Law Actually Covers Beyond the CBDC ban, S.163 covers a wide range of crypto activity. Individuals and businesses are protected from being blocked from accepting digital assets as payment for legal goods and services. Self-hosted and hardware wallets are formally recognized, allowing users to hold their own assets without government interference. State and local governments are also barred from taxing digital asset payments at higher rates than other payment types. The law’s definition of digital assets is broad, covering cryptocurrencies , stablecoins, fungible tokens, non-fungible tokens, and other digital-only assets that carry economic, proprietary, or access rights. Crypto mining operations also get legal cover. Local governments cannot impose unfair zoning rules, excessive noise restrictions, or regulations that single out mining businesses. Node operations, blockchain software development, staking services, and mining activities are exempt from money transmitter license requirements under certain conditions. Staking-as-a-service and mining-as-a-service providers will not automatically be classified as securities issuers under state law. At the same time, the South Carolina Attorney General retains authority to prosecute fraud involving anyone who falsely claims to offer those services — a consumer protection measure built directly into the law. Featured image from Pexels, chart from TradingView

20 May 2026, 22:22

Bitcoin miners tied to AI rise as Nvidia posts big earnings beat and strong outlook

Nvidia's stronger-than-expected results and bullish AI outlook lifted crypto mining stocks tied to data center and high-performance computing demand, even as the chipmaker's shares fell due to growth concerns.