The Promises and Perils of Leveraging Blockchain for the Future of Moon Governance

Abstract

Blockchain, as a distributed ledger technology, is considered one of the ground-breaking technologies of the last decade. The Bitcoin blockchain and its consensus has even been referred to as being a “technological tour-de-force” by Bill Gates, back in 2014. The technology is well-known for enabling disintermediated transactions, in addition to the automation of complex business logics in peer-to-peer interactions. On Earth, an increasing number of sectors and domains are already implementing this emerging technology. In space, blockchain is being considered as a tool for enabling mission efficiency, space traffic management, Earth Observation etc. However, such promising applications of blockchain technology are under the risk of being out shadowed by concerns, involving inter alia fraud, security breaches and lack of sustainability. Given the on-going preoccupations related to establishing future human habitats on the Moon, the purpose of this paper is to offer a critical yet balanced analysis of how blockchain may enable such ambitious endeavours. Alternative blockchain ideologies are explored through the lens of international space law, with a focus on the provisions applicable to the legal status of the Moon.

Keywords: blockchain, decentralization, NewSpace, Artemis Accords, Moon Agreement