Starcloud to Start Bitcoin Mining in Space This Year

Highlights:

• Starcloud plans to test Bitcoin mining in space with its second spacecraft launch.
• The company says space offers steady solar power and natural cooling benefits.
• CEO Philip Johnston sees Bitcoin mining as an easier first space test.

Starcloud, a space infrastructure startup, is preparing to take Bitcoin mining into space. CEO Philip Johnston, posted to X on Saturday, said the company plans to start the test later this year with the launch of its second spacecraft. If it succeeds, Starcloud could become the first company to test Bitcoin mining in orbit.

The cat is out of the bag: @Starcloud_-2 will be the first to mine 𝗕𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗼𝗶𝗻 in space.

This will be a massive industry in itself. Right now, bitcoin mining consumes about 20 GW of power continuously. It makes no sense to do this on Earth, and in the end state, all of this… pic.twitter.com/tmfr8rxGOL

— Philip Johnston (@PhilipJohnston) March 7, 2026

Space Could Solve Energy and Cooling Problems

However, the plan is not just about crypto. It is part of Starcloud’s wider goal to build orbital data centers for power-heavy computing work. The company says space gives it two key benefits: steady solar energy and radiative cooling.

Bitcoin mining needs huge amounts of electricity. Miners must power special hardware and also run cooling systems to control heat. Starcloud believes space can help solve both issues. Satellites in orbit can use constant solar energy from large solar panels. As a result, they may not depend on the Earth’s electricity grids on Earth.

At the same time, space is naturally cold. The vacuum of space allows passive radiative cooling. Because of this, mining systems may not need expensive cooling equipment used in normal data centers. If the system works, space mining could become more efficient than many ground-based mining facilities.

According to Philip Johnston, Bitcoin mining is one of the most practical early uses of space-based computing. He said ASIC miners cost much less per unit of power than advanced artificial intelligence chips. “A kilowatt of the B200 chip may cost $30,000, whereas ASICs are only about $1,000,” Johnston explained. Because of that, they are easier to test in orbit before more complex computing systems are sent into space.

Starcloud Prepares Its Next Space Mission

Starcloud was founded in 2024 to build orbital data centers. These centers aim to handle heavy computing tasks such as AI training and Bitcoin blockchain processing. Last year, the company launched its first spacecraft, Starcloud-1. The satellite carried an advanced GPU to test high-performance computing in space. As a result, it showed that data-center-level hardware can work in orbit. After this early test, the company is now preparing the next mission. 

Thanks @YCombinator for documenting @Starcloud_Inc1’s journey to launching the first @Nvidia H100 in space 🙏 Check it out below! 🎥🤓 https://t.co/aEtDRrblrF

— Starcloud (@Starcloud_) November 13, 2025

In February 2026, Starcloud also asked the FCC for permission to launch 88,000 solar-powered satellites to serve as orbital data centers. Some of these satellites will be used for Bitcoin mining. The plan depends on SpaceX and the launch of its Starship rocket, expected in March.

Even so, the economics of space computing remain uncertain. Recently, Reuters reported that industry leaders still see orbital data centers as far from commercial reality. This is mainly because launch capacity is limited, and sending payloads into space remains expensive. Therefore, Starcloud’s plan to mine Bitcoin in space will likely serve as an experiment, not a sign that space mining is commercially ready. However, the announcement shows how fast the digital infrastructure field is evolving.