ConsenSys, Inc., a software development company focused on blockchain technology, has acquired Planetary Resources, Inc., a company that aims to deploy technologies for asteroid mining.
The acquisition was made through an “asset-purchase transaction.”
“Expanding Humanity’s Economic Sphere Of Influence”
Chris Lewicki, the president and CEO of Planetary Resources, and the company’s legal counsel, Brian Israel, have joined ConsenSys “in connection with the acquisition.”
Lewicki has experience working as flight director of the Spirit & Opportunity Mars rovers and Phoenix Mars lander at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Commenting on his new role at ConsenSys Space, Lewicki said:
Over the course of nearly a decade, Planetary Resources has simultaneously pioneered technology, business, law and policy, and brought the promise of space resources irreversibly closer to humankind’s grasp. I am proud of our team’s extraordinary accomplishments, grateful to our visionary supporters, and delighted to join ConsenSys in building atop our work to expand humanity’s economic sphere of influence into the Solar System.
Before joining ConsenSys and co-founding Planetary Resources, Israel worked at the US State Department’s Office of the Legal Advisor and as the US Representative to the United Nations space law body.
Smart Contracts & “Commerce In Space”
Explaining the importance of smart contracts in transforming the future of commerce, Israel remarked: “Ethereum smart contract functionality is a natural solution for private-ordering and commerce in space—the only domain of human activity not ordered around territorial sovereignty—in which a diverse range of actors from a growing number of countries must coordinate and transact.”
Joseph Lubin, the co-founder of Ethereum and founder of ConsenSys, said:
“I admire Planetary Resources for its world class talent, its record of innovation, and for inspiring people across our planet in support of its bold vision for the future. Bringing deep space capabilities into the ConsenSys ecosystem reflects our belief in the potential for Ethereum to help humanity craft new societal rule systems through automated trust and guaranteed execution. And it reflects our belief in democratizing and decentralizing space endeavors to unite our species and unlock untapped human potential. We look forward to sharing our plans and how to join us on this journey in the months ahead.
Global Digital Finance’s Founders: ConsenSys, Coinbase, Circle
Notably, ConsenSys’ “space initiatives” will be managed at a Redmond, Washington-based facility – which was previously operated by Planetary Resources.
As CryptoGlobe reported, Global Digital Finance (GDF), a non-profit organization focused on “driving acceleration and adoption of digital finance”, announced on October 31st that key members of the crypto industry (including ConsenSys, Circle and Coinbase), will serve as its founding members.
The GDF also published its Taxonomy for Cryptographic Assets and an industry-led Code of Conduct.
