Wang Chun has a specific concern about Mars—not whether humans can survive the journey, but whether anyone will actually attempt it. The founder of the crypto mining pool F2Pool has put his money where his worries are, purchasing a ticket for SpaceX’s inaugural crewed mission to the red planet, set to take place in the near future.
SpaceX announced this ambitious two-year mission on Thursday, which will not only fly past the Moon but also continue on to Mars before returning to Earth. In addition to this interplanetary adventure, Wang has secured a seat on a separate weeklong lunar flight that is slated to launch before the Mars mission.
Wang expressed his concerns on social media, stating, “I have no confidence that Mars will still happen within our lifetime, and I think I should do something about that.” His reasoning is clear: he believes that governments will inevitably focus on returning humans to the Moon, driven by the competitive dynamics between the US and China.
Now that Starship V3 has made its debut, we are one step closer to making life multiplanetary.
During Fram2 training, apart from the usual Dragon-related topics, I remember that what we talked about most in the training room was how to reliably tether down on Phobos.— Chun (@satofishi) May 23, 2026
However, the mission to Mars presents a different set of challenges. Without the involvement of private funding, Wang fears the ambitious goal of reaching Mars could easily become an afterthought. He stated, “I hope that by purchasing a flyby mission to Mars, SpaceX will have another reason not to forget about Mars.”
Wang is no stranger to financing space exploration initiatives. In April, he led and funded the Fram2 mission, which successfully orbited Earth and conducted scientific experiments, including taking X-rays and growing mushrooms in space. The upcoming Mars mission represents a significant leap forward in this exploratory spirit.
Having founded F2Pool in 2013, one of the earliest Bitcoin mining pools to emerge from China, Wang has established a noteworthy presence in the crypto industry. Today, F2Pool commands an impressive 11.85% share of the global mining market, making it the third largest mining pool currently in operation.
SpaceX’s vision for Mars extends far beyond just a single flyby mission. Reports suggest that the company aspires to develop a self-sustaining city on the Martian surface, a goal that will require over a million people and vast amounts of cargo. However, the initial cargo flights for research and exploration are not expected to commence until at least 2028.
Wang believes that this mission carries a message that transcends the technical aspects of space travel. He remarked, “I hope this mission can show the public that Mars is not just a point of light in a telescope. It is a real place, and humans can fly there and come back alive and healthy.”
The Chinese-born citizen of Malta is now part of an expanding group of tech entrepreneurs who are transitioning from merely funding space ventures to actually participating in them, joining the ranks of notable figures like Jeff Bezos, Richard Branson, and Jared Isaacman.
Featured image from SpaceX, chart from TradingView
