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Spacecoin Sends Blockchain Data Through Space in First-of-Its-Kind Test to Challenge Starlink

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U.S. satellite startup Spacecoin announced on Wednesday that it had successfully transmitted secured blockchain data through space, marking what it called an industry first and a potential challenge to Elon Musk’s Starlink.

The company’s goal is to create a decentralized satellite network offering connectivity and data storage for users in regions where internet access is unreliable, censored, or prohibitively expensive, according to its founder Tae Oh.

HOW IT WORKS

Unlike Starlink — where SpaceX maintains full control over its vast satellite constellation — Spacecoin envisions an open, participatory model that allows users, developers, and organizations to contribute to the network and verify transactions.
Its technology uses blockchain encryption to ensure that data sent through satellites cannot be intercepted, altered, or falsified.

During the test, Spacecoin transmitted blockchain data over 7,000 kilometers, from Chile to the Azores, entirely through a satellite link — without relying on terrestrial internet.
The nanosatellite used in the experiment was built by Bulgarian microsatellite manufacturer EnduroSat, and the company said the data returned to Earth intact and verifiable.

“Beyond end users, we are also targeting builders — such as developers, telecom companies, NGOs, and infrastructure partners,” said founder Tae Oh.
“For people using the internet, this means the information or payments they send can’t be faked, changed, or intercepted by bad actors.”

CONTEXT AND FUTURE PLANS

The success of Spacecoin’s test comes amid a boom in satellite internet services as global demand for secure broadband increases.
While J.P. Morgan previously tested blockchain payments between satellites, Spacecoin’s test is the first to bypass terrestrial networks entirely, operating solely in orbit.

Currently, Spacecoin has just one satellite, launched in December 2024 on a SpaceX rocket, and orbits in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at up to 2,000 km altitude.
The company plans to add three more satellites by the end of 2025 to expand coverage and reliability.

With Starlink’s 8,000-satellite fleet dominating global satellite broadband, Spacecoin’s blockchain-based approach positions it as an innovative but niche challenger, combining crypto technology with space-based communication infrastructure.

AI-Guided Cameras Enable Solo Surgery in Breakthrough for Surgical Automation

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For the first time in Chile, a surgeon successfully performed laparoscopic gallbladder removal solo using an AI-guided autonomous camera, marking a milestone in the march toward surgical automation.

Key Event

  • Dr. Ricardo Funke, chief of surgery at Clinica Las Condes in Santiago, carried out the operation without a human assistant.

  • The AI-powered camera tracked his instruments in real time, automatically adjusting angles to provide optimal visualization.

  • The procedure also used magnetic surgical instruments, further enhancing precision.

Why It Matters

  • Traditionally, laparoscopic surgeries require a camera operator.

  • With AI, one surgeon can handle the entire operation, boosting efficiency and reducing reliance on additional staff.

  • This advancement represents a practical step toward fully automated surgeries.

Wider Context

  • The global surgical robotics market is forecast to expand from $15.6 billion in 2024 to $64.4 billion by 2034 (Precedence Research).

  • In July, Johns Hopkins University demonstrated an AI-guided robot performing complex procedures on pig organs, highlighting global momentum in the field.

  • The technology in Santiago was developed by Levita Magnetics, whose CEO Alberto Rodriguez said the procedure is “the first step in surgical automation with a real patient.”

Outlook

  • AI-guided tools may soon play a central role in improving surgical precision, reducing risks, and enabling wider access to care.

  • While full autonomy remains a future goal, hybrid approaches—where AI assists human surgeons—are rapidly moving from research labs to real operating rooms.

Latin American Countries to Launch Latam-GPT AI Model in September

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A coalition of a dozen Latin American countries is set to launch Latam-GPT, the region’s first large-scale AI language model designed specifically to understand and reflect Latin America’s cultural and linguistic diversity. The project, led by Chile’s National Center for Artificial Intelligence (CENIA) and involving over 30 regional institutions, aims to increase AI accessibility and adoption across the continent.

Chilean Science Minister Aisen Etcheverry described Latam-GPT as a “democratizing element for AI,” envisioning its use in sectors such as education and healthcare, with technology that resonates with local culture and languages. Development began in January 2023, focusing on addressing the limitations and inaccuracies found in global AI models primarily trained in English.

Rather than competing directly with commercial AI services like ChatGPT, Latam-GPT is intended as foundational technology to power regional applications including chatbots. One of its highlighted objectives is the preservation of Indigenous languages. The model already includes a translator for Rapa Nui, the native language of Easter Island, with plans to expand support to other Indigenous tongues for use in virtual public service assistants and personalized education tools.

Built on Llama 3 AI technology, the model is trained via a network of computers spanning regional institutions such as Chile’s University of Tarapaca and cloud infrastructure. Support has come from the Latin American development bank CAF and Amazon Web Services.

Although the project currently operates without a dedicated budget, CENIA’s director Alvaro Soto is optimistic that demonstrating Latam-GPT’s capabilities will help secure future funding.