Latest news with #SpaceX-linked
Time of India
28-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Elon Musk's SpaceX just moved Bitcoin after 3 years, should crypto investors panic?
SpaceX Moves $153 Million in Bitcoin to New Address What Could Be Behind SpaceX's Sudden Bitcoin Transfer? Live Events SpaceX Faces Political Pressure While Seeking $1 Billion in Funding SpaceX's Bitcoin Investment Traces Back to 2021 Tesla's Bitcoin Investment and Recent Sell-Off Elon Musk Says He Still Holds Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Dogecoin FAQs (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel After more than three years of sitting still, a Bitcoin wallet linked tosuddenly became active last week, which has led the crypto world to speculate on the reasons behind the move, as per a Tuesday, the cryptocurrency intelligence platform Arkham reported that a wallet associated with the space exploration company had moved about 1,300 BTC, worth over $153 million, as per the Benzinga report. It's the first recorded movement from this wallet since June 2022, according to the posted on X, the social platform formerly known as Twitter, 'SPACEX JUST MOVED BITCOIN FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 3 YEARS,' and added that, 'They sent 1.3K BTC ($153M) to a fresh address this morning,' as quoted by READ: Is Donald Trump cheating at golf again? New viral video at Turnberry sparks heated debate on social media While SpaceX hasn't commented on the move, it has sparked a flurry of speculation about the purpose of the transfer, as per the report. These kinds of moves are usually indicative of a wallet custody adjustment or an impending sell-off, as reported by per Arkham's data, the SpaceX-linked wallet still holds about 7,000 BTC, which is worth more than $830 million, according to the report. While, as of Sunday, the transferred 1,300 BTC had not moved from the recipient address, as reported by READ: Jobs, inflation, Fed move: This week could decide the fate of the US economy for years to come SpaceX's move comes at a time of growing political and financial pressure for SpaceX. Reports suggest that the Trump administration is taking a closer look at the company's government contracts, following a recent public clash between US president Donald Trump and Musk, according to Newsweek. Meanwhile, SpaceX is trying to raise more than $1 billion in funding, as it works toward a $400 billion valuation, as reported by involvement with Bitcoin was first revealed in July 2021, when Musk disclosed that the company had added Bitcoin to its balance sheet, according to the report. While no exact number was shared, blockchain analysts estimated that SpaceX initially bought nearly 26,000 BTC that year for around $860 million, averaging $33,000 per coin, as reported by Newsweek. Since then, the company is believed to have trimmed its holdings to just over 8,000 BTC, as per the isn't the first time a Musk-led company has made headlines for its Bitcoin investment. Tesla had purchased over 43,000 BTC in early 2021, worth $1.5 billion at the time, as per Newsweek. However, since then, the EV maker has sold off a large portion of those holdings and now holds just over 11,500 BTC, according to the both companies reducing their Bitcoin exposure, Musk has said he personally still owns Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Dogecoin, and has no plans to sell, as reported by Newsweek. He made that statement back in 2022, during a conversation about rising inflation, according to the recently, Musk liked a post suggesting he may be accumulating Bitcoin again, and he's voiced support for the cryptocurrency through his proposed political party, the 'America Party,' as per Newsweek. He has called fiat currency 'hopeless' and criticized a recent government spending bill that could add over $3 trillion to the national deficit over the next decade, according to is not known for sure, but it could be for security reasons or a possible sell-off.1,300 BTC, which is worth over $153 million.
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First Post
05-05-2025
- Business
- First Post
Musk's SpaceX-run city in Texas now a reality: What is Starbase? Why is it controversial?
Starbase, a 1.6-square-mile area in South Texas near the Mexico border, has been officially incorporated following a 212–6 vote largely involving SpaceX employees. The city's leadership comprises three SpaceX-linked individuals who ran unopposed. The move gives the company increased authority over local infrastructure and beach access, prompting environmental protests and opposition from regional officials read more A man with the proposed new name for the town on his T-shirt is seen in Boca Chica, Texas, that would become Starbase, Texas. File Image/AP Starbase, a newly incorporated city in southern Texas, has officially come into existence following a successful vote on May 4, 2025. Created around Elon Musk's rocket company, SpaceX, this microcity sits on approximately 1.6 square miles of land near the Gulf Coast and the Mexico border. The area, once known as Boca Chica Village, is now almost entirely controlled by SpaceX and populated predominantly by its employees and their families. The proposal to form the city was approved by a large margin: 212 of 283 eligible voters supported the incorporation, while only six opposed it, according to official Cameron County election results. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Most voters reside within the bounds of the proposed city and are connected to SpaceX either as employees or through family ties. The vote's outcome was widely anticipated due to the company's deep influence in the area. Elon Musk, who owns SpaceX and the social media platform X, celebrated the development enthusiastically online. Posting on X shortly after the results, he declared, 'Starbase is now a real city!' marking the culmination of a plan he first hinted at publicly in March 2021. Starbase, Texas Is now a real city! — gorklon rust (@elonmusk) May 4, 2025 Remote village to corporate hub Before the arrival of SpaceX, Boca Chica Village was a quiet beachside settlement, established more than 80 years ago. Since SpaceX began acquiring property in the area in 2012, the landscape has undergone significant transformation. According to SpaceX representatives, out of the 247 lots that make up the new city's boundaries, only ten are not owned by the company or its employees. The transformation includes the construction of company housing, the installation of Airstream trailers and tiny homes, and the proliferation of industrial infrastructure to support rocket testing and launches. A statue of SpaceX founder Elon Musk on Saturday, May 3, 2025, is seen near the town of Boca Chica, Texas, that would become Starbase, Texas, US. File Image/AP The land now houses key components of SpaceX's operations, including rocket manufacturing and testing sites. It is also the launch point for Starship, the company's next-generation spacecraft designed for deep space missions. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With the city's incorporation, the company gains more direct municipal control over the area, a move that is expected to streamline operations for SpaceX and reduce reliance on county-level permissions for key activities like road and beach closures during launches. Who governs Starbase? Under Texas law, Starbase is categorised as a 'Type C' municipality, a designation for cities with fewer than 5,000 residents. This status grants it authority over planning, zoning, taxation (including a property tax rate of up to 1.5 per cent) and other local matters. The inaugural city government consists of a mayor and two commissioners — all SpaceX employees who ran unopposed and automatically assumed office following the vote. Robert 'Bobby' Peden, a SpaceX vice-president who has worked with the company for over a decade and donated $5,000 to its political action committee in December, is the first mayor of Starbase. Peden was the only candidate on the ballot for the mayor's office. People enter a polling station in the town of of Boca Chica, Texas, that would become Starbase, Texas, if local residents approve a measure to make the home of Elon Musk's SpaceX its own city on Saturday, May 3, 2025. File Image/AP Joining him as city commissioners are Jenna Petrzelka and Jordan Buss. Petrzelka has been affiliated with SpaceX since 2012 and most recently served as Manager of Operations Engineering at Starbase. On her campaign documentation, she identified herself as a 'philanthropist,' having volunteered at a local nonprofit for migrants and homeless populations. Her husband is also employed by SpaceX. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Buss, who joined SpaceX in 2023, serves as the Senior Director of Environmental Health and Safety and contributed $600 to the SpaceX PAC in the same year. Like Peden and Petrzelka, Buss ran without opposition. Notably, there were no public campaign efforts — no posters, digital advertisements, or forums — reflecting the insular and company-centric nature of the new city. 'There have been no signs of a traditional campaign along the Boca Chica Beach region in South Texas,' wrote Berenice Garcia of The Texas Tribune. What is the controversy around Starbase? While the incorporation of Starbase is a victory for Musk and SpaceX, it has not come without controversy. Local activists, environmental organisations and indigenous groups have voiced strong opposition to what they see as corporate overreach and ecological degradation. The South Texas Environmental Justice Network (SOTEJN) staged a protest on the day of the vote, drawing dozens of demonstrators who opposed further expansion of corporate control over public lands. People protest at Boca Chica beach, Texas, on Saturday, May 3, 2025, before an incorporation election that would turn Starbase into an official Texas city. File Image/AP Vanity Fair reported that Christopher Basaldú, a co-founder of the group and a member of the Carrizo Comecrudo Nation of Texas, stated the cultural and spiritual significance of the region: 'It's not just important — it's sacred.' One of the key points of contention involves Boca Chica Beach and the adjacent state park, which have traditionally been managed by Cameron County. SpaceX has often required closures of these areas during rocket launches. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A bill currently under consideration in the Texas legislature could shift authority for such closures from the county to the new city, further empowering Starbase officials and potentially criminalising non-compliance with evacuation orders. The proposed legislation would classify refusal to leave the area during closures as a Class B misdemeanour, carrying up to 180 days in jail. A protester holds a piñata of Elon Musk during a protest at Boca Chica beach, Texas, on Saturday afternoon, May 3, 2025, hours before polls closed for the incorporation election that would turn Starbase into an official Texas city. File Image/AP Judge Eddie Treviño Jr., the top elected official in Cameron County, has expressed opposition to this bill, suggesting it represents a dangerous centralisation of power under a private enterprise. Environmentalists have also raised alarms about the ecological toll of SpaceX's activities in the region. Critics argue that the company's operations have disrupted local wildlife habitats, caused light and noise pollution, and left debris from rocket launches scattered around the area. In 2024, SpaceX was fined nearly $150,000 by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for violations involving wastewater discharge. The company attributed the fines to 'disagreements over paperwork' and maintains that it remains in compliance with environmental regulations. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Despite the fines and protests, SpaceX continues to expand its presence. The company has proposed increasing the number of rocket launches from five to 25 per year at the Texas site, which would likely lead to more frequent beach and park closures and potentially greater environmental strain. How Musk's political role has resulted in backlash Starbase's formation arrives at a politically sensitive time for Elon Musk, who currently leads the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) in US President Donald Trump's administration. His role in executing widespread cuts across federal agencies has sparked nationwide protests and has led to discontent even within his own companies. A February 2025 Washington Post-Ipsos poll found that 49 per cent of respondents disapproved of Musk's performance in government. Similar results were reflected in surveys by Quinnipiac, Emerson College, and Marist Poll for NPR and PBS, all showing more disapproval than support — particularly among Democratic respondents. Nevertheless, Republicans showed stronger approval for Musk's role in the Trump administration. Musk has indicated that he may soon reduce his governmental responsibilities to refocus on Tesla and other ventures, though no official timeline has been announced. In the meantime, Doge's budgetary cuts are already affecting multiple sectors, drawing further public ire. With inputs from agencies
