One small step for man, one giant leap for crypto.
The rocket is set to launch this Monday.
Peregrine-1 encapsulated with a ULA Vulcan rocket
BitMEX, a leading crypto derivatives
exchange, is embarking on a lunar escapade, sending a Bitcoin soaring to the
Moon's celestial embrace on January 8 at 02:18 am ET from Cape Canaveral Space
Force Station, Florida, that’s this Monday for any rocket watchers out there.
In partnership with Astrobotic, Bitcoin Magazine, and Oxcart Assembly, the absolutely
vital mission aims to showcase Bitcoin's potential in forging a borderless
financial system beyond our earthly bounds. It marks the first Western soft
lunar landing since NASA's Apollo 17 mission in 1972 and might just herald a
new era of commercially driven Moon missions.
A Voyage Beyond Earth's Reach
Astrobotic's Peregrine-1
Astrobotic's
Peregrine-1, scheduled to land on the Moon on February 23, could make
history as the first Western soft lunar landing in over 50 years. Integrated
onto Peregrine-1, the Bitcoin, symbolizing a monetary system for a space
economy, is set to reach the lunar surface, highlighting the capabilities of
blockchain technology and Bitcoin to cross financial frontiers.
A Leap into a New Era?
Stephan Lutz, CEO at BitMEX, said, “The mission is a momentous
achievement in space exploration, representing the first step of creating a
monetary system for a space economy. Perfectly preserved for future
generations, the Bitcoin on the Moon is a time capsule that captures one of the
most significant human innovations and technological advancements. This
decisive leap forward is just the beginning of a new era. I’m excited to see
what lies ahead for decentralized finance where financial systems transcend
earthly boundaries and empower individuals across the cosmos.”
A Cryptocurrency Capsule
A render of the front of BitMEX's coin.
A render of the back of BitMEX's coin.
But what exactly are we talking about here? A physical Bitcoin,
weighing 43 grams and carrying 1 BTC (valued at around $44,000-45,000), will
become the first financial asset to touch the lunar surface if all goes to plan.
Engraved with a public address and private key, this symbolic coin will remain
on the Moon with Peregrine, inviting the crypto community to interact, send
messages, and even their own coins to the lunar realm.
The Bitcoin, before being placed inside the lander.
A Fusion of Technology, Finance, and Exploration
Ben Usinger, Head of Community at BitMEX, who also spearheaded the promotion of the mission said, “We are
thrilled about the launch, thanks to the dedication of like-minded partners who
share our commitment to pushing the boundaries of exploration. We hope our
pursuit to expand the horizons of technology and finance will inspire a new
generation of innovators and pioneers to reach for the stars. Fostering a
future where cryptocurrency and space exploration go hand in hand, paving the
way to explore uncharted territories and fuel the evolution of Bitcoin beyond
Earth.”
Celestial Trading Extravaganza: A Lunar Trading Competition
In celebration of this historic voyage, BitMEX is running a trading
competition with prizes during the orbit phases of the mission. You can explore
it all here.
We’re excited to see the launch, and here’s hoping that it goes a
little better than Elon
Musk’s recent Space
X failure.
BitMEX, a leading crypto derivatives
exchange, is embarking on a lunar escapade, sending a Bitcoin soaring to the
Moon's celestial embrace on January 8 at 02:18 am ET from Cape Canaveral Space
Force Station, Florida, that’s this Monday for any rocket watchers out there.
In partnership with Astrobotic, Bitcoin Magazine, and Oxcart Assembly, the absolutely
vital mission aims to showcase Bitcoin's potential in forging a borderless
financial system beyond our earthly bounds. It marks the first Western soft
lunar landing since NASA's Apollo 17 mission in 1972 and might just herald a
new era of commercially driven Moon missions.
A Voyage Beyond Earth's Reach
Astrobotic's Peregrine-1
Astrobotic's
Peregrine-1, scheduled to land on the Moon on February 23, could make
history as the first Western soft lunar landing in over 50 years. Integrated
onto Peregrine-1, the Bitcoin, symbolizing a monetary system for a space
economy, is set to reach the lunar surface, highlighting the capabilities of
blockchain technology and Bitcoin to cross financial frontiers.
A Leap into a New Era?
Stephan Lutz, CEO at BitMEX, said, “The mission is a momentous
achievement in space exploration, representing the first step of creating a
monetary system for a space economy. Perfectly preserved for future
generations, the Bitcoin on the Moon is a time capsule that captures one of the
most significant human innovations and technological advancements. This
decisive leap forward is just the beginning of a new era. I’m excited to see
what lies ahead for decentralized finance where financial systems transcend
earthly boundaries and empower individuals across the cosmos.”
A Cryptocurrency Capsule
A render of the front of BitMEX's coin.
A render of the back of BitMEX's coin.
But what exactly are we talking about here? A physical Bitcoin,
weighing 43 grams and carrying 1 BTC (valued at around $44,000-45,000), will
become the first financial asset to touch the lunar surface if all goes to plan.
Engraved with a public address and private key, this symbolic coin will remain
on the Moon with Peregrine, inviting the crypto community to interact, send
messages, and even their own coins to the lunar realm.
The Bitcoin, before being placed inside the lander.
A Fusion of Technology, Finance, and Exploration
Ben Usinger, Head of Community at BitMEX, who also spearheaded the promotion of the mission said, “We are
thrilled about the launch, thanks to the dedication of like-minded partners who
share our commitment to pushing the boundaries of exploration. We hope our
pursuit to expand the horizons of technology and finance will inspire a new
generation of innovators and pioneers to reach for the stars. Fostering a
future where cryptocurrency and space exploration go hand in hand, paving the
way to explore uncharted territories and fuel the evolution of Bitcoin beyond
Earth.”
Celestial Trading Extravaganza: A Lunar Trading Competition
In celebration of this historic voyage, BitMEX is running a trading
competition with prizes during the orbit phases of the mission. You can explore
it all here.
We’re excited to see the launch, and here’s hoping that it goes a
little better than Elon
Musk’s recent Space
X failure.
Louis Parks has lived and worked in and around the Middle East for much of his professional career. He writes about the meeting of the tech and finance worlds.
In this conversation, we sit down with Drew Niv, CSO at ATFX Connect and one of the most influential figures in modern FX.
We speak about market structure, the institutional view on liquidity, and the sharp rise of prop trading, a sector Drew has been commenting on in recent months. Drew explains why he once dismissed prop trading, why his view changed, and what he now thinks the model means for brokers, clients and risk managers.
We explore subscription-fee dependency, the high reneging rate, and the long-term challenge: how brokers can build a more stable and honest version of the model. Drew also talks about the traffic advantage standalone prop firms have built and why brokers may still win in the long run if they take the right approach.
In this conversation, we sit down with Drew Niv, CSO at ATFX Connect and one of the most influential figures in modern FX.
We speak about market structure, the institutional view on liquidity, and the sharp rise of prop trading, a sector Drew has been commenting on in recent months. Drew explains why he once dismissed prop trading, why his view changed, and what he now thinks the model means for brokers, clients and risk managers.
We explore subscription-fee dependency, the high reneging rate, and the long-term challenge: how brokers can build a more stable and honest version of the model. Drew also talks about the traffic advantage standalone prop firms have built and why brokers may still win in the long run if they take the right approach.
Executive Interview | Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller| CEO & Founder Muinmos | FMLS:25
Executive Interview | Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller| CEO & Founder Muinmos | FMLS:25
In this interview, Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller, founder of Muinmos, breaks down the state of AI in regtech and what responsible adoption really looks like for brokers. We talk about rising fragmentation, the pressures around compliance accuracy, and why most firms are still in the early stages of AI maturity.
Ramanda also shares insights on regulator sandboxes, shifting expectations around accountability, and the current reality of MiCA licensing and passporting in Europe.
A concise look at where compliance, onboarding, and AI-driven processes are heading next.
In this interview, Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller, founder of Muinmos, breaks down the state of AI in regtech and what responsible adoption really looks like for brokers. We talk about rising fragmentation, the pressures around compliance accuracy, and why most firms are still in the early stages of AI maturity.
Ramanda also shares insights on regulator sandboxes, shifting expectations around accountability, and the current reality of MiCA licensing and passporting in Europe.
A concise look at where compliance, onboarding, and AI-driven processes are heading next.
In this conversation, we speak with Aydin Bonabi, CEO and co-founder of Surveill, a firm focused on fraud detection and AI-driven compliance tools for financial institutions.
We start with Aydin’s view of the Summit and the challenges brokers face as fraud tactics grow more complex. He explains how firms can stay ahead through real-time signals, data patterns, and early-stage detection.
We also talk about AI training and why compliance teams often struggle to keep models accurate, fair, and aligned with regulatory expectations. Aydin breaks down what “good” AI training looks like inside a financial environment, including the importance of clean data, domain expertise, and human oversight.
He closes with a clear message: fraud is scaling, and so must the tools that stop it.
In this conversation, we speak with Aydin Bonabi, CEO and co-founder of Surveill, a firm focused on fraud detection and AI-driven compliance tools for financial institutions.
We start with Aydin’s view of the Summit and the challenges brokers face as fraud tactics grow more complex. He explains how firms can stay ahead through real-time signals, data patterns, and early-stage detection.
We also talk about AI training and why compliance teams often struggle to keep models accurate, fair, and aligned with regulatory expectations. Aydin breaks down what “good” AI training looks like inside a financial environment, including the importance of clean data, domain expertise, and human oversight.
He closes with a clear message: fraud is scaling, and so must the tools that stop it.
Exness expands its presence in Africa: Inside our interview with Paul Margarites in Cape Town
Exness expands its presence in Africa: Inside our interview with Paul Margarites in Cape Town
Finance Magnates met with Paul Margarites, Exness regional commercial director for Sub-Saharan Africa, during a visit to the firm’s office opening in Cape Town. In this talk, led by Andrea Badiola Mateos, Co-CEO at Finance Magnates, Paul shares views on the South African trading space, local user behavior, mobile trends, regulation, team growth, and how Exness plans to grow in more markets across the region. @Exness
Read the article at: https://www.financemagnates.com/thought-leadership/exness-expands-its-presence-in-africa-inside-our-interview-with-paul-margarites/
#exness #financemagnates #exnesstrading #CFDtrading #tradeonline #africanews #capetown
Finance Magnates met with Paul Margarites, Exness regional commercial director for Sub-Saharan Africa, during a visit to the firm’s office opening in Cape Town. In this talk, led by Andrea Badiola Mateos, Co-CEO at Finance Magnates, Paul shares views on the South African trading space, local user behavior, mobile trends, regulation, team growth, and how Exness plans to grow in more markets across the region. @Exness
Read the article at: https://www.financemagnates.com/thought-leadership/exness-expands-its-presence-in-africa-inside-our-interview-with-paul-margarites/
#exness #financemagnates #exnesstrading #CFDtrading #tradeonline #africanews #capetown
Executive Interview | Jas Shah | FMLS:25
Executive Interview | Jas Shah | FMLS:25
Interview with Jas Shah
Builder | Adviser | Fintech Writer | Product Strategist
In this episode, Jonathan Fine sat down with Jas Shah, one of the most thoughtful voices in global fintech. Known for his work across advisory, product, stablecoins, and his widely read writing, Jas brings a rare combination of industry insight and plain-spoken clarity.
We talk about his first impression of the Summit, the projects that keep him busy today, and how they connect to the stablecoin panel he joined. Jas shares his view on the link between fintech, wealthtech and retail brokers, especially as firms like Revolut, eToro and Trading212 blur long-standing lines in the market.
We also explore what stablecoin adoption might look like for retail investment platforms, including a few product and UX angles that are not obvious at first glance.
To close, Jas explains how he thinks about writing, and how he approaches “shipping” pieces that spark debate across the industry.
Interview with Jas Shah
Builder | Adviser | Fintech Writer | Product Strategist
In this episode, Jonathan Fine sat down with Jas Shah, one of the most thoughtful voices in global fintech. Known for his work across advisory, product, stablecoins, and his widely read writing, Jas brings a rare combination of industry insight and plain-spoken clarity.
We talk about his first impression of the Summit, the projects that keep him busy today, and how they connect to the stablecoin panel he joined. Jas shares his view on the link between fintech, wealthtech and retail brokers, especially as firms like Revolut, eToro and Trading212 blur long-standing lines in the market.
We also explore what stablecoin adoption might look like for retail investment platforms, including a few product and UX angles that are not obvious at first glance.
To close, Jas explains how he thinks about writing, and how he approaches “shipping” pieces that spark debate across the industry.