The Winklevoss twins are going into space — and paying in Bitcoin

ANDREW BURTON/Getty Images

The Winklevoss twins are going into space — and paying in Bitcoin
(Image credit: ANDREW BURTON/Getty Images)

Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson made waves in the technology world last year with the announcement that his space tourism firm would be accepting payment in Bitcoin.

Now, he's found his first Bitcoin-paying customers — Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, famous for suing Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg for borrowing their idea, and more recently for promoting Bitcoin and investing in Bitcoin startups, including the troubled BitInstant, whose CEO was arrested in January on suspicion of money laundering.

A blog post on the twins' website explains more:

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Cameron and I have decided to use our Bitcoin to take the plunge, or rather propulsion, into space. Why? Because Bitcoin and Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic are two technologies that meaningfully represent our focus at Winklevoss Capital — the reduction of pain-points and friction in an effort to build a better world. [Winklevoss Capital]

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John Aziz is the economics and business correspondent at TheWeek.com. He is also an associate editor at Pieria.co.uk. Previously his work has appeared on Business Insider, Zero Hedge, and Noahpinion.