There is a bold idea that went viral: Bitcoin can be sent to Mars in 3 minutes 🚀

Technicians Jose and Carlos proposed the "timestamp proof" solution, using satellites + ground stations as intermediaries, where each station stamps the transaction (like passing through passport control), ensuring that the transaction is verified as it moves. Combined with the Lightning Network, theoretically, payments from Earth to Mars could be completed within 3-22 minutes.

This is not a wild idea — SpaceX has been working on this for a while, and Blockstream used satellites to access Bitcoin back in 2018, while the International Space Station also conducted transactions in 2020.

Elon Musk has been promoting the idea that a unified currency is needed for a multi-planetary civilization. Bitcoin's 10-minute block time is too slow, but with this system combined with the Lightning Network, it can achieve his ideal of second-level settlement. What about the 26 months when Mars is behind the Sun? Use relay satellites to go around.

This wave of ideas has something to it, but we still have to wait for SpaceX to send humans for real Mars wallet transfers. However, as a step for Bitcoin towards interstellar travel, it is indeed worth paying attention to.