SpaceX launches Starship rocket for first time since record-shattering IPO

SpaceX sent its Starship mega-rocket skyward from Brownsville, Texas on July 24, marking the 13th test flight of the program and the first launch since Elon Musk’s rocket company went public six weeks ago. The flight lifted off from Starbase at approximately 6:45 PM ET, with a planned re-entry and landing in the Indian Ocean roughly an hour later.

Here’s why this matters beyond the aerospace world: SpaceX’s June 12 IPO raised about $75 billion at $135 per share, valuing the company at roughly $1.77 to $1.8 trillion. That makes it the largest IPO in history. And now crypto platforms are already offering tokenized versions of SpaceX shares, bridging the gap between one of the most watched public listings ever and the digital asset ecosystem.

The flight and what almost didn’t happen

This launch almost happened a week earlier. A scheduled July 16 attempt was scrubbed due to engine problems, a reminder that even trillion-dollar companies still wrestle with the physics of strapping together the most powerful rocket ever built.

The Starship program has been iterating since 2023, collecting data that SpaceX needs to eventually use Starship for satellite deployment, crewed missions, and its long-stated Mars ambitions.

The IPO that changed the game

SpaceX’s June 12 listing raised approximately $75 billion, making it the biggest IPO ever recorded, eclipsing Saudi Aramco’s 2019 offering. At a valuation between $1.77 trillion and $1.8 trillion, SpaceX instantly became one of the most valuable companies on the planet.

Tokenized SpaceX shares enter the crypto ecosystem

Multiple crypto platforms have begun offering tokenized products tied to SpaceX equity. Projects including xStocks (trading under SPCXx) and PreStocks SPACEX are providing retail crypto users with exposure to SpaceX shares through blockchain-based instruments.

The risk side is equally important. Tokenized equity products exist in a regulatory gray zone in many jurisdictions. They may not confer actual shareholder rights. They may not be backed one-to-one by real shares. And in a market downturn, liquidity on these platforms could evaporate far faster than on traditional exchanges.

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