NASA Astronaut Secretly Mines $20M in Crypto from ISS Using Repurposed Satellite Feed

Houston, TX. – 2 minutes ago, April 20th, 2025

In an unprecedented breach of protocol and space ethics, NASA has confirmed that a former mission specialist, Alex Morrow, covertly mined over $20 million in cryptocurrency aboard the International Space Station (ISS) using unauthorized modifications to satellite communication equipment.

The discovery was made during a routine power audit conducted by NASA’s Energy Systems Division, which identified unexplained energy spikes during orbital dark periods when external systems were expected to be dormant. Further investigation traced the irregularities to a customized rig embedded within the station’s data relay and backup systems—repurposed hardware that had been offline for months.

NASA Administrator Dr. Karen Hughes addressed the situation at a press briefing on Monday.

“This is an egregious violation of operational protocol, international treaty, and our commitment to transparent, peaceful exploration of space. Mr. Morrow acted alone, and the integrity of the ISS and its international partnerships remains intact,” she said.

Alex Morrow, 38, was part of NASA’s Expedition 72 and had previously been praised for his expertise in satellite telemetry and onboard systems optimization. However, documents obtained by investigators reveal that Morrow had spent nearly six months discreetly assembling a low-energy, high-efficiency crypto mining operation that utilized residual computing power and satellite feed modulation to process cryptocurrency transactions.

The type of currency mined has not been officially confirmed, but sources close to the investigation suggest it was a blend of Monero and a lesser-known proof-of-work altcoin optimized for low-bandwidth environments.

International space law experts have called the case “a legal minefield,” as the crime took place outside Earth’s jurisdiction but involves U.S. federal assets and an international partnership under the Artemis Accords.

Morrow is currently under administrative detainment at Johnson Space Center in Houston while NASA coordinates with federal and international law enforcement. Charges are expected to include misappropriation of government property, unauthorized use of communications infrastructure, and violations of the Outer Space Treaty of 1967.

“We’re dealing with a completely new category of cyber-physical crime,” said Dr. Luis Mendoza, a cybersecurity consultant for orbital networks. “This is someone who turned a floating science lab into a rogue blockchain node 250 miles above Earth.”

The cryptocurrency community has been quick to react, with some hailing Morrow as a “cyber pioneer” while others condemn his actions as reckless and damaging to the legitimacy of crypto technology in scientific settings.

As of now, all mining-related operations aboard the ISS have been dismantled, and enhanced monitoring systems are being installed to prevent future exploits. NASA has also launched a full review of its onboard security protocols and has promised tighter oversight of hardware modifications moving forward.

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Born in Asheville, North Carolina, Morrow graduated from MIT with a double major in electrical engineering and applied cryptography. Former colleagues describe him as “brilliant, reserved, and often obsessed with the idea of breaking systems to rebuild them better.”

He joined NASA in 2020 and quickly rose through the ranks for his uncanny ability to troubleshoot and optimize satellite networks. Sources say he had previously raised concerns about "wasted computing potential" aboard the ISS and reportedly floated the idea of running decentralized computations in space — an idea dismissed at the time as “visionary but impractical.”

Just two days after NASA confirmed the existence of a covert crypto mining operation aboard the International Space Station (ISS), internal documents leaked to independent journalists suggest that Morrow may not have acted alone.

A confidential briefing marked “FOR INTERNAL REVIEW ONLY” outlines potential collaboration between Morrow and at least two unnamed ground-based technicians, both assigned to the agency’s Orbital Systems Integration Division.

The leaked memo notes “anomalous access logs” connected to secure remote maintenance terminals, indicating that ground systems may have been used to remotely alter uplink parameters—a move impossible without deep clearance and insider knowledge.

Cyber forensics experts now believe Morrow’s rig was receiving periodic software patches and firmware updates during his time aboard the ISS. The frequency and timing of these updates suggest an Earth-based operator was involved, possibly helping him avoid detection and optimize mining performance.

One NASA insider, speaking under condition of anonymity, called the evidence “damning.”

“There’s no way he was doing this solo,” they said. “This was a coordinated effort—small, tight, and probably years in the making.”

The memo also points to an encrypted Signal group chat discovered on Morrow’s secured laptop titled “BlackSat_Alpha”. Messages were deleted, but metadata suggests up to four participants were involved.

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Despite growing public interest and online speculation, NASA has refused to comment on the leak, calling it part of an “active investigation.”

An internal audit of NASA’s crypto-security protocols is currently underway, and sources say multiple staff members have been placed on administrative leave as investigators probe possible collusion.