SATOSPHERE
Aulani Cruz
Creator and CEO of Satosphere
I see myself as a pretty simple Pleb who wants to learn and know everything I can about all things Bitcoin (only). Like most Plebs, I love learning about Bitcoin, discussing Bitcoin, and supporting other Bitcoiners and Bitcoin businesses. And I’ve always wanted to do more to contribute to the Bitcoin ecosystem and community.
I knew from the start that trying to find my place might be a challenge since I’m not a tech person, a dev, an educator, a speaker, or a Bitcoin miner. Regardless, I couldn’t let that stop me. I had to find my own way of contributing that would allow me to be creative and develop a product that would hopefully bring inspiration.
My journey and leap into the Bitcoin rabbit hole began in 2020. I became obsessed with learning about this “new technology” and, at the time, considered it more of an “investment opportunity” than anything, not knowing or understanding all of the use cases of Bitcoin.
My FOMO was on red alert, and within weeks, my husband, Wilton, and I got our first free $10 worth of Satoshis (Sats) and started our Bitcoin-only education with Swan Bitcoin. It was a game changer for us, and our lives haven’t been the same since.
The further down the rabbit hole I went, I quickly realized I wasn’t alone. I became inspired, influenced, and informed by the Bitcoin community and connected with other Plebs. I ingested every YouTube video and Twitter post about Bitcoin, and even logged in to Clubhouse rooms and Twitter Spaces where Bitcoin was the topic. Like other Bitcoiners, I wanted to find a way to learn all I could, participate, and contribute to the Bitcoin ecosystem in hopes of doing more for myself, my family, and the Bitcoin community.
In 2022, my husband and I received a gift from one of our best friends. It was among the most unique, memorable, and creative gifts ever. She gave us a black and gold Mova Globe that “rotates without batteries or wires, using a first-of-its-kind technology that uses advanced magnets for torque and solar cells to power the movement,” which was utterly mind blowing, beautiful, and epic at the same time!
Of course, with my laser eyes on and seeing orange everywhere, I looked at this globe rotating as the sun hit it and immediately envisioned a world positively impacted by Bitcoin.
I asked my husband, “Can you imagine a Bitcoin globe?” Wilton nodded and said, “Absolutely. You need to make one.” My next thought was, how the hell was I going to do that?
From that moment, I couldn’t stop thinking about how cool a Bitcoin globe would be. And the fact that it’s not just any typical, basic globe, but a one-of-a-kind globe that is unique and uses advanced technology, just like Bitcoin. What a perfect match!
The idea was there, but development was months in the making. While trying to figure all of that out, I had a fantastic opportunity to work with Alladan Flinn and his company, Bitcoin Trading Cards, helping with the production of their Series Two (S2) cards scheduled to launch in May of 2023. It ended up selling out within weeks of its launch date, which was amazing!
My husband and I are Bitcoin Trading Cards Series 1 & Series 2 collectors. It’s been fantastic to be a part of the Packstackers community. To have played a role in Series 2 was an absolute bonus. I learned a lot during this epic experience, and it was a time in Bitcoin history I’m proud and blessed to have been a part of. We love breaking those packs; however, be careful, it’s addicting.
During that time, I saw, and continue to see, how our community reacts to unique Bitcoin products, gifts, and collection pieces. In essence, I saw the power of Bitcoiners supporting Bitcoiners. That’s what my husband and I have done; it’s beautiful to see that camaraderie in our community, which is that we’re all in it together.
I saw and felt that firsthand, which gave me the confidence to move forward with my own vision. I knew I needed to start my project by creating the globe, putting it out there, and having it be a part of this community. From then on, I was determined to direct all my energy, time, and creativity into this Bitcoin globe.
The first step in moving forward was a major one. Wilton and I met with the COO of Mova Globe, Christine Hsieh, to determine the logistics, costs, timeline, etc., to make this happen. When they gave us the green light, Wilton and I figured out the numbers, discussed the vision on my end and the investment portion on his, and decided to pull the trigger! From there, we hired a Graphic Artist and hit the ground running. Satosphere was born.
The company name was vital because I wanted one that would explain the product, be memorable, spark curiosity, and be a name that a Bitcoiner would identify with. The breakdown of Satosphere is simple:
SATO: Represents Satoshi and all the promising possibilities of living in a Satoshi world.
SPHERE: Besides its typical definition of “a round and solid figure,” I also loved the other definition of a sphere, meaning “ an area of activity, interest, or expertise; a section of society or an aspect of life distinguished and unified by a particular characteristic.”
The simplest definition for Satosphere would be “a very distinctive realm people enter into as they begin their journey down the Bitcoin rabbit hole.” Essentially, it is where one’s Bitcoin journey truly begins.
While being excited about Satosphere, at the same time, I was scared of how to approach the creative process of representing Bitcoin and what it meant to me, and then having to put all that on display in a cohesive way. I wanted to make sure it was something that, from all angles, I could be proud of.
I’d never done anything like this before, and it was daunting at first, so I weighed every decision. An essential thing to me was deciding if I would sell Satosphere globes using bitcoin only and not fiat since, in a Satoshi world, fiat doesn’t exist. And if I only accepted bitcoin, I’d need to figure out how that works and what that looks like in a company setup. Thankfully, I contacted community members with businesses that accepted bitcoin-only, like @Masshodlghost from Proof of Ink, and asked for advice.
Even writing this specific article describing how Satosphere came to fruition was also a significant challenge for me. Still, on both accounts, I was determined to move forward and make this happen. I’m thankful to @AnthonyDessauer and the Stackchain crew for the opportunity to tell this story. Effortlessly, our Bitcoin community came through. To sum up, I think it’s natural for people to want their homes to reflect their personalities and passions. Satosphere gives Bitcoiners a unique, special aesthetic decor for their home, office, studio, coffee table, or even in the background of their podcast. It’s a perfect piece that can potentially start Bitcoin conversations with our normie family and friends.
I envision and hope for Satosphere to be a representation of our world with Bitcoin. I named this first Satosphere globe “Connection” hoping it captures and conveys different elements of Bitcoin’s energy, from its peer-to-peer transactional capabilities to its ability to connect us one-on-one in person or from across the globe.
We aim to launch Satosphere around The 4th Bitcoin Halving in April 2024. These are exciting times. Stay encouraged, be creative, and never stop learning. If you have an idea or project you want to start, I encourage you to do it. Put in the PoW and do whatever you can to make it happen. Make your mark in being a part of Bitcoin’s history.
See you in the Satosphere realm, where inspiration awaits, and innovation thrives. LFG!
Aulani Cruz
Creator and CEO of Satosphere
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Note from Stackchain Magazine: No Bitcoin (or inferior monies) were exchanged for this article. This article was written by Aulani Cruz who might actually be the sweetest person earth. Those of us at Stackchain Magazine had the privilege of meeting her before the Satosphere came to life and got to watch a Bitcoin dream come true. As of the online publication of this article. the Satosphere is available for sale and it’s easily one of the coolest pieces of Bitcoin art you could have. Seriously you want one, Go to www.satosphere21.com and get one before they run out.