Pay For Virgin Galactic Space Flights With Bitcoins

Sir Richard Branson has got his fingers in almost all the pies, so to speak.  His Virgin Media company provides people all over the UK with award winning, superfast fibre optic broadband, capable of lightening speeds. The Virgin train and aircraft network can commute people all over the globe in very short periods of time, often in luxurious surroundings.

The company has never been shy when it comes to trying out new technologies and often they are at the heart of leading innovations in infrastructure and entertainment today.  The next step though, is a bit risky, even for Mr. Branson, as Virgin wants you to pay for your next Virgin Galactic flight into space with the virtual currency known as Bitcoin.

Only two years previously, Bitcoin was worth less than $10 per share, but now its value, after spiking to $900, has reached $700. A US Senate committee hearing even dubbed it a legitimate financial service.  This peaked Sir Richard Branson’s interest.

Actually, the founder of the Virgin Empire is so interested in Bitcoin that he has invested in them. He’s also announced that Virgin Galactic customers can choose to pay with Bitcoin with immediate effect.  “Virgin Galactic is a company looking into the future, so is Bitcoin. So it makes sense we would offer Bitcoin as a way to pay for your journey to space,” wrote Branson in a blog post on his company’s website.  Branson noted one “future astronaut” from Hawaii has already purchased a Virgin Galactic ticket using the Bitcoin currency, and he expects many more will follow, though he did not stipulate how much it will cost.

What do you think?  Should we be able to pay for future travel using this type of currency?  As always, your comments are welcome.

[Image via luxormag]

SOURCE: http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/125385-virgin-galactic-now-lets-you-use-bitcoin-to-pay-for-flights-into-space