"The Cosmic Gold Mine" NASA's probe is expected to reach "Asteroid 16 Psyche" in 2029. Online comments: Bringing back gold is not as good as buying Bitcoin.

In 2019, asteroid 16 Psyche shocked the world with its metal reserves valued at 700 billion dollars, sparking discussions about "everyone can become a billionaire." Today, NASA's 16 Psyche exploration mission is attempting to explore this cosmic treasure, which may unveil the future of the space economy. (Background: The evolution of the currency system: from gold to stablecoins) (Background: Gold, Bitcoin, and Pokémon cards—who is the 'perfect collateral' of this era?) Asteroid 16 Psyche generated global discussions in 2019, with astronomers estimating that this giant metallic asteroid, located in the main asteroid belt, could have metal reserves (including iron, nickel, and gold) worth up to 700 billion (700 quintillion, 1 quintillion = 1,000,000 trillion) dollars, of which gold alone amounts to 27 trillion (27 quadrillion, 1 quadrillion = 1,000 trillion) tons. Such astonishing resources led analysts at the time to point out that if gold from 16 Psyche could be transported back to Earth, it would be enough to make everyone on Earth a billionaire. Now, NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) is taking practical steps towards this dream, attempting to unveil the mysteries of this asteroid. What is asteroid 16 Psyche? The metallic treasure in the cosmos 16 Psyche is a large metallic asteroid located in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, with a diameter of about 200-250 kilometers. It is believed to be the exposed core of a planet that never formed, primarily composed of metals such as iron, nickel, and gold. Scientists speculate that this asteroid could be the core of a planet that did not fully develop during the early formation of the solar system, making it an excellent target for studying planet formation and cosmic resources. Besides 16 Psyche, another near-Earth asteroid, 2011 UW158, is also noteworthy. This asteroid is estimated to contain platinum valued at about 5.4 trillion dollars. According to models, if a successful space mining mission could be conducted on 2011 UW158, it might yield more resources than the total metal production on Earth for an entire year. NASA's Psyche mission: paving the way for future mining According to foreign media reports from "ecoportal," to gain a deeper understanding of 16 Psyche, NASA launched the Psyche spacecraft in October 2023, with the latest projections indicating that the spacecraft will arrive at this asteroid in 2029. However, the objective of this mission is not to directly mine metals, but to collect key data by mapping and analyzing the structure and composition of 16 Psyche, laying the groundwork for potential future space mining operations. Scientists believe this mission will not only help reveal the mysteries of planet formation but could also open new pathways for future resource extraction for humanity. As natural resources on Earth become increasingly scarce, exploring resources on other celestial bodies becomes particularly important. Although NASA is not yet involved in actual mining, this marks a significant step for humanity towards utilizing space resources, potentially laying the foundation for a future space economy. Online discussions: Dream of gold or economic crisis? However, it is worth noting that the reactions from internet users are quite varied. Some believe that this mission is of great significance, not only helping to expand human understanding of the universe but also providing solutions to Earth's resource shortages. However, some netizens poured cold water on the idea, pointing out that with current human technology, extracting and transporting resources from asteroids back to Earth is still an unattainable challenge. Space mining requires breakthrough technological advancements, including space transportation, space refining, and infrastructure development, challenges that far exceed current capabilities. A more pessimistic view suggests that even if the gold from 16 Psyche can be brought back to Earth, humanity may not necessarily become rich as a result. The reason gold is regarded as a valuable safe-haven asset lies in its scarcity on Earth. If the gold from 16 Psyche floods the Earth market, its value may plummet, potentially triggering global economic turmoil, inflation, or even market collapse. Lastly, some users from the crypto world have taken a different perspective, arguing that the discovery of 16 Psyche highlights the unique value of Bitcoin. Since Bitcoin's inception in 2009, its price has soared from less than 1 dollar to this year's peak of 120,000 dollars, and its status as "digital gold" is increasingly recognized by the market. All of this is thanks to Bitcoin's supply being mathematically fixed at 21 million coins, with no possibility of inflation. Users candidly expressed that to become wealthy, rather than spending time and effort mining gold and transporting it back to Earth, buying Bitcoin is a more direct approach: "Planets beyond Earth may hide endless gold, but Bitcoin will forever remain at 21 million coins—this is true scarcity." Further reading: Beyond humanity's consensus and intellect for millennia: why Bitcoin is a better 'gold' Related reports: JPMorgan says: Bitcoin is too cheap! Buy below 126,000 dollars to profit. Will Bitcoin consolidate until the Mid-Autumn Festival? See what CryptoQuant and Matrixport analysts say. Tether announces it will issue USDT on the Bitcoin RGB protocol, truly integrating stablecoins into the BTC ecosystem. This article was originally published by BlockTempo, the most influential blockchain news media.