MoonDAO aims to create a self-sustaining moon colony by 2030 with the help of decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs)

In a bold and ambitious endeavor, MoonDAO co-founder Pablo Moncada and his decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) are on a mission to establish a self-sustaining colony on the moon within the next seven years. 

MoonDAO, founded in 2021 and boasting a membership of over 5,000 individuals, envisions DAOs as the solution to breaking down the barriers that have long kept space exploration out of reach for everyday people.

A vision for inclusive space exploration

Pablo Moncada firmly believes that space exploration has been dominated by government space programs and well-funded private companies for far too long, leaving the general public largely excluded from this incredible frontier. 

MoonDAO, often called “the Internet’s space program,” aims to challenge this status quo by involving ordinary people in funding space-related research and travel.

Moncada’s vision is not confined to mere rhetoric; he envisions a future where people could live on the moon by 2030. However, he acknowledges that this ambitious goal has challenges and uncertainties.

One of the primary hurdles MoonDAO seeks to overcome is the perception that space exploration is a “walled-off” landscape controlled by government entities and well-heeled corporations. 

MoonDAO’s mission is to democratize space exploration by empowering individuals to contribute to and participate in this exciting field.

Historically, space research has relied on governments allocating funds from taxes, while more recently, private giants like SpaceX and Blue Origin have attracted private investors. MoonDAO, however, introduces a novel approach to financing by uniting people worldwide who share a passion for space exploration. 

It leverages the power of decentralized autonomous organizations to facilitate a new era of fundraising for space-related endeavors.

The historical parallel: Joint stock corporations

Pablo Moncada parallels MoonDAO’s vision and the historical emergence of joint stock corporations in the 1500s. In 1551, England introduced this innovative financial structure, which was subsequently adopted by Western nations to finance exploratory voyages to new territories.

Moncada explains, “They had to invent new forms of coordination to fund those voyages to buy ships and start exploring the new world. So I think we’re going to see a similar thing here, where to fund a lot of these new missions, we’re going to start needing to use new tools, which I think, in this case, are DAOs.”

Realizing MoonDAO’s potential

While MoonDAO has yet to place anyone on the moon, it has already achieved significant milestones. In November of the previous year, MoonDAO conducted a historic vote that sent Coby Cotton, a YouTube channel Dude Perfect member, into space aboard one of Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin spacecraft. 

This marked a groundbreaking achievement for DAOs, demonstrating their capacity to facilitate space exploration.

Despite the challenges and uncertainties that lie ahead, Pablo Moncada remains undeterred. He views MoonDAO’s overarching goal as a catalyst for a paradigm shift in how organizations approach capital raising for space research, travel, and exploration. 

In contrast to historical government financing and modern private investments, MoonDAO’s approach brings together a global community of space enthusiasts, fostering a new frontier of funding possibilities.

A track record of ambitious endeavors

Pablo Moncada’s involvement with MoonDAO follows his previous work at ConstitutionDAO, which garnered attention for its audacious goal of raising $49 million to purchase the sole physical copy of the United States Constitution. 

While ConstitutionDAO, like many other DAOs, fell short of its stated aim, Moncada emphasizes the importance of aiming high and taking risks. Pursuing ambitious goals, even if not fully realized, is far more commendable than never attempting them.