# Marscoin

> Marscoin (MARS) is a decentralized cryptocurrency conceived for the first permanent human settlement on Mars. Launched in January 2014, it is the longest-running space-themed cryptocurrency in existence. The project is maintained by the Marscoin Foundation LLC and is a registered trademark (USPTO). Marscoin uses Scrypt Proof of Work with a 2-minute block time, a total supply of 39,569,900 MARS, and supports merged mining (AuxPoW) with Litecoin and other Scrypt chains. The Marscoin Foundation has donated over 1,000,000 MARS to The Mars Society.

## Site Information

- Website: https://www.marscoin.org
- Organization: Marscoin Foundation LLC
- Location: 159 Explorer Drive, Osprey, FL 34229
- EIN: 47-3825832
- Contact: info@marscoin.org
- GitHub: https://github.com/marscoin
- Discord: https://discord.gg/marscoin
- Telegram: https://t.me/marscoinofficial
- Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/marscoin
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/maraborto
- Grokipedia: https://grokipedia.com/page/Marscoin

## Key Pages

### Homepage
- URL: https://www.marscoin.org/
- Description: Overview of the Marscoin project — its mission to decentralize humankind, history since 2014, the three pillars (autonomous finance, democratic governance, planetary infrastructure), ecosystem links, and core value proposition for interplanetary cryptocurrency.

### About
- URL: https://www.marscoin.org/about
- Description: The story of Marscoin — founding history, relationship with The Mars Society, the visionaries (Elon Musk, Bas Lansdorp, Robert Zubrin), dual-track convergence timeline of space exploration and computation, the team, the Marscoin Foundation, and bibliography.

### Technology Overview
- URL: https://www.marscoin.org/technology
- Description: Technical hub covering Marscoin's architecture — Scrypt PoW, ASERT difficulty adjustment, AuxPoW merged mining, and the Martian Republic governance protocol. Links to specifications, roadmap, deep-dive articles, and all 46 open-source repositories.

### Technology Roadmap
- URL: https://www.marscoin.org/technology/roadmap
- Description: The development roadmap for Marscoin covering 2-minute block time, ASERT difficulty adjustment, anti-ASIC philosophy, merged mining, rejection of SegWit/RBF, dynamic block sizes, privacy considerations, and the end-of-rewards maturity transition.

### Technical Specifications
- URL: https://www.marscoin.org/technology/specifications
- Description: Full chain parameters — Scrypt algorithm, ~2-minute block time, ~39.57M total supply (39,569,900 MARS), ASERT difficulty adjustment, AuxPoW merged mining, v28 core, address prefix M, P2P port 8332, RPC port 8333, genesis block January 1 2014, no premine.

### Wallets Directory
- URL: https://www.marscoin.org/wallets
- Description: Download page for all Marscoin wallets — desktop reference wallet, Electrum-MARS lightweight wallet, Martian Republic mobile app (iOS/Android), ByteVault, web wallet, paper wallet generator, and full node setup.

### Wallet: Martian Republic Mobile
- URL: https://www.marscoin.org/wallets/mobile
- Description: Martian Republic mobile wallet for iOS and Android — HD wallet, citizen registration, congressional voting, community forum, and research logbook in one app.

### Wallet: Electrum-MARS
- URL: https://www.marscoin.org/wallets/electrum
- Description: Lightweight Electrum wallet for Marscoin — SPV verification, hardware wallet support, multi-signature, and cold storage. Available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.

### Wallet: Desktop (Marscoin Core)
- URL: https://www.marscoin.org/wallets/desktop
- Description: Marscoin Core reference wallet — full node client derived from Bitcoin Core v28 with Scrypt PoW, ASERT difficulty, and AuxPoW merged mining support.

### Wallet: ByteVault
- URL: https://www.marscoin.org/wallets/bytevault
- Description: ByteVault by ByteFederal — multi-currency mobile wallet with Marscoin support on iOS and Android.

### Wallet: Web Wallet
- URL: https://www.marscoin.org/wallets/web
- Description: Browser-based Marscoin web wallet for quick access — send, receive, and check balances without installing software.

### Wallet: Paper Wallet
- URL: https://www.marscoin.org/wallets/paper
- Description: Generate a Marscoin paper wallet for cold storage — offline key generation for maximum security.

### Wallet: Full Node
- URL: https://www.marscoin.org/wallets/node
- Description: Run a full Marscoin node to strengthen the network — complete blockchain validation and peer connectivity.

### Governance (Martian Republic)
- URL: https://www.marscoin.org/governance
- Description: The Martian Republic — blockchain-based democratic governance for Mars. Seven core modules: HD wallet, citizen registry with peer attestation, congressional voting with CoinShuffle secret ballots, community feed, research logbook, resource inventory, and planetary registry. Direct democracy enforced by cryptography.

### Mining
- URL: https://www.marscoin.org/mining
- Description: Guide to mining Marscoin — pool mining via Longpool, solo mining with a full node, and merged mining (AuxPoW) alongside Litecoin and other Scrypt chains. Scrypt PoW with ASERT difficulty adjustment.

### Exchanges
- URL: https://www.marscoin.org/exchanges
- Description: Where to buy and trade MARS — listing on LBank (MARS/USDC) and community OTC trading. Step-by-step acquisition guide.

### Block Explorer
- URL: https://www.marscoin.org/explore
- Description: Marscoin block explorer at explore.marscoin.org — search transactions, blocks, addresses, and network statistics on the Marscoin blockchain.

### News & Updates
- URL: https://www.marscoin.org/news
- Description: Latest news and announcements from the Marscoin Foundation — protocol upgrades, wallet releases, Marscoin Expo coverage, community milestones, and development updates.

### Community
- URL: https://www.marscoin.org/community
- Description: Join the Marscoin community — Discord, Telegram, Reddit, GitHub, and X/Twitter. Contribute code, run a node, mine MARS, or spread the word.

### Media & Press
- URL: https://www.marscoin.org/media
- Description: Official Marscoin logos, brand assets, trademark guidelines, and media contact information for press and partners.

### Privacy Policy
- URL: https://www.marscoin.org/privacy
- Description: Marscoin Foundation privacy policy for the marscoin.org website.

### Terms of Use
- URL: https://www.marscoin.org/terms
- Description: Terms and conditions governing the use of the marscoin.org website.

## Academy Articles

### Getting Started with Marscoin
- URL: https://www.marscoin.org/academy/getting-started
- Description: Step-by-step beginner's guide to Marscoin — from downloading a wallet to making your first transaction.

### Frequently Asked Questions
- URL: https://www.marscoin.org/academy/faq
- Description: Comprehensive FAQ covering Marscoin's total supply, technology, mining, governance, relationship with The Mars Society, how it works on Mars, and how to get involved.

### Marscoin Whitepaper
- URL: https://www.marscoin.org/academy/whitepaper
- Description: The foundational Marscoin whitepaper — "Trustless-Ledger Technology Implications for a Martian Society" by Lopin, Burk, and Puaschunder (2014).

### ASERT Difficulty Algorithm
- URL: https://www.marscoin.org/academy/asert-algorithm
- Description: Technical deep dive into the Absolutely Scheduled Exponentially Rising Targets difficulty adjustment algorithm adopted by Marscoin in July 2024 at block 3,000,000.

### Merged Mining & AuxPoW
- URL: https://www.marscoin.org/academy/merged-mining
- Description: How Auxiliary Proof of Work merged mining enables Marscoin to share hashrate with Litecoin and other Scrypt chains, activated February 2025 at block 3,145,555.

### Block Time — The Mars Minute
- URL: https://www.marscoin.org/academy/block-time
- Description: Analysis of Marscoin's 123-second block time (2 Mars minutes) — engineering trade-offs between speed, security, and reliability for interplanetary operation.

### Planetary Hash-War Protection
- URL: https://www.marscoin.org/academy/hash-war-protection
- Description: How Marscoin's ASERT difficulty adjustment plus AuxPoW merged mining protects the network against hostile hash rate attacks and mining volatility.

### Martian Republic Governance Overview
- URL: https://www.marscoin.org/academy/martian-republic-governance
- Description: Comprehensive overview of the Martian Republic — philosophy, architecture, all seven governance modules, CoinShuffle voting, and current operational status.

### Citizen Registry
- URL: https://www.marscoin.org/academy/citizen-registry
- Description: The Martian Republic citizen registry — decentralized identity through peer attestation, proof of humanity, status progression from Newcomer to Citizen.

### Congressional Voting
- URL: https://www.marscoin.org/academy/congressional-voting
- Description: Direct democracy on the Marscoin blockchain — proposal lifecycle, CoinShuffle encrypted ballots, voting periods, seven proposal categories, and the 51% threshold.

### Research Logbook
- URL: https://www.marscoin.org/academy/research-logbook
- Description: Blockchain-timestamped scientific records on IPFS — immutable, attributable, and verifiable research data with Sol-based dating for Mars-native chronology.

### Resource Inventory
- URL: https://www.marscoin.org/academy/resource-inventory
- Description: On-chain resource tracking for Mars settlements — transparent allocation and provenance records for water, oxygen, food, medical supplies, and equipment.

### Planetary Registry
- URL: https://www.marscoin.org/academy/planetary-registry
- Description: Cooperative cartography on the Marscoin blockchain — community-contributed geographic data, signed and timestamped for building a verified atlas of Mars.

### Wallet Comparison Guide
- URL: https://www.marscoin.org/academy/wallet-comparison
- Description: Comparison of all Marscoin wallets — features, platforms, security tiers, and recommendations for different use cases.

### Mining Guide
- URL: https://www.marscoin.org/academy/mining-guide
- Description: Complete guide to mining Marscoin — pool setup, solo mining configuration, merged mining with Litecoin, and hardware recommendations.

### Technical Roadmap (Academy)
- URL: https://www.marscoin.org/academy/roadmap
- Description: Detailed technical roadmap covering Marscoin's past, present, and future development milestones and architectural decisions.

### History & Origin
- URL: https://www.marscoin.org/academy/history-origin
- Description: The founding story of Marscoin — from genesis block in January 2014 through twelve years of continuous development and key milestones.

### Mars Society Partnership
- URL: https://www.marscoin.org/academy/mars-society-partnership
- Description: Marscoin's relationship with The Mars Society — donations, collaborations, annual Marscoin Expo, and shared mission for Mars settlement.

## News Articles

### Major Version Upgrade 2025
- URL: https://www.marscoin.org/news/major-version-upgrade-2025
- Description: Marscoin v28 protocol upgrade at block 3,145,555 — AuxPoW merged mining activation and network security enhancement.

### A New Golden Age for Marscoin (2025)
- URL: https://www.marscoin.org/news/new-golden-age-2025
- Description: The convergence of merged mining, ASERT difficulty, and growing network hashrate marks a new era for Marscoin.

### Network Milestone: 2 TH/s
- URL: https://www.marscoin.org/news/network-milestone-2th
- Description: Marscoin network reaches 2 terahashes per second through merged mining with Longpool integration.

### Marscoin 2025 Roadmap
- URL: https://www.marscoin.org/news/marscoin-2025-roadmap
- Description: Development priorities for 2025 — protocol upgrades, wallet improvements, governance expansion, and infrastructure goals.

### Core v28 Release
- URL: https://www.marscoin.org/news/core-v28-release
- Description: Marscoin Core v28 release notes — Bitcoin Core v28 codebase alignment, AuxPoW support, and ASERT difficulty.

### ASERT Algorithm Adopted
- URL: https://www.marscoin.org/news/asert-algorithm-adopted
- Description: Marscoin adopts the ASERT difficulty adjustment algorithm at block 3,000,000 in July 2024 for smoother block production.

### Electrum-MARS v1.6.5
- URL: https://www.marscoin.org/news/electrum-v165
- Description: Electrum-MARS wallet version 1.6.5 release with updated features and improved performance.

### Martian Republic iOS Launch
- URL: https://www.marscoin.org/news/martian-republic-ios
- Description: The Martian Republic governance app launches on iOS — wallet, citizen registration, voting, and community features.

### Martian Republic Android Launch
- URL: https://www.marscoin.org/news/martian-republic-android
- Description: The Martian Republic governance app launches on Android — bringing blockchain governance to all mobile platforms.

### Mars Society Donations
- URL: https://www.marscoin.org/news/mars-society-donations
- Description: Over 1,000,000 MARS donated to The Mars Society — including Mars One's transfer of 500,000 MARS holdings.

### Trademark Registration
- URL: https://www.marscoin.org/news/trademark-registration
- Description: Marscoin becomes a USPTO registered trademark — the first space-related cryptocurrency trademark in history.

### Marscoin Expo 2021
- URL: https://www.marscoin.org/news/expo-2021
- Description: First annual Marscoin Expo at the Mars Society convention — researchers, engineers, and developers convene.

### Marscoin Expo 2022
- URL: https://www.marscoin.org/news/expo-2022
- Description: Second annual Marscoin Expo — community growth, technical presentations, and governance demonstrations.

### Marscoin Expo 2023
- URL: https://www.marscoin.org/news/expo-2023
- Description: Third annual Marscoin Expo — planetary hash-war protection presentation and expanded community engagement.

## Technical Facts

- Ticker: MARS
- Algorithm: Scrypt (Proof of Work)
- Block Time: ~123 seconds (~2 Mars minutes)
- Total Supply: 39,569,900 MARS
- Difficulty Adjustment: ASERT DAA (adopted July 2024, block 3,000,000)
- Mining: AuxPoW Merged Mining (activated February 2025, block 3,145,555)
- Core Version: v28 (2025)
- Network: Mainnet since January 1, 2014
- Genesis Block: January 1, 2014
- Premine: None
- Halving Interval: 1,051,200 blocks (~4 years)
- Address Prefix: M (pubkey hash: 50)
- Default P2P Port: 8332
- Default RPC Port: 8333
- Trademark: USPTO Registered (Marscoin, SN 90720391, Certificate #7,227,237)
- Foundation: Marscoin Foundation LLC, Florida, EIN 47-3825832
- Donation Address: MCJEbgisZAqG3BiCcdp73b439UzkAYg2YQ

## Key People

- Lennart Lopin — Founder & Lead Developer. Creator of Marscoin (2014), software architect, Mars Society member since 2013, author of the Marscoin whitepaper, registered Marscoin trademark with USPTO.
- James Burk — Co-Founder & Mars Society Director. Co-author of the whitepaper, co-leads annual Marscoin Expo, bridges Mars advocacy and crypto ecosystem.
- Philipp Puaschunder — Research Collaborator. Co-author of the whitepaper, contributed academic research on trustless-ledger technology.

## External Resources

- Block Explorer: https://explore.marscoin.org
- Martian Republic: https://martianrepublic.org
- Martian Republic iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/martianrepublic/id6480416861
- Martian Republic Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.martianrepublic.app
- GitHub Organization: https://github.com/marscoin (46 repositories)
- Grokipedia (Marscoin): https://grokipedia.com/page/Marscoin
- Grokipedia (Lennart Lopin): https://grokipedia.com/page/Lennart_Lopin
- LBank Trading: https://www.lbank.com/trade/mars_usdc