Wang Chun, founder of Bitcoin mining giant F2Pool, has purchased a seat on SpaceX's first crewed mission to fly past Mars, aiming to ensure private investment keeps Mars exploration on the agenda. SpaceX announced the two-year interplanetary mission, which will also include a lunar flyby, on Thursday. Wang, who previously funded a SpaceX mission, believes private capital is crucial for Mars exploration, citing a lack of confidence in government-led initiatives. Wang's investment in the Mars flyby underscores his commitment to space exploration, following his earlier involvement in a SpaceX mission that conducted experiments in Earth's orbit. He joins other tech leaders like Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson in transitioning from financing space projects to participating in them. SpaceX's long-term goal is to establish a self-sustaining city on Mars, a vision that will require significant private investment and is not expected to begin until 2028.