A Million Satellites, A $1.25 Trillion Merger, and the Race to Put AI in Orbit
Gregory Cowles
Chief Strategy Officer, Co-Founder
This Post is disseminated on behalf of Intellistake Technologies Corp.
So Elon did a thing. Actually, he did two things. And if you weren't paying attention over the weekend, you might have missed what could be one of the most significant shifts in how we think about AI infrastructure.
On Friday, SpaceX filed plans with the FCC to launch up to one million satellites designed specifically as orbital data centres.¹ Then on Monday, SpaceX announces plans to merge with xAI in a deal valuing the combined company at $1.25 trillion — the largest merger in history.²
And the stated reason for all of this? Space-based AI.
Why Space?
Musk's argument is straightforward. Current AI systems depend on massive terrestrial data centres that consume enormous amounts of electricity and cooling. And the global power demand for AI simply cannot be met by land-based infrastructure without, as he put it, "imposing hardship on communities and the environment."³
His solution? Move it all to space.
In announcing the merger, Musk argued that AI will ultimately need to move beyond Earth to scale efficiently, writing that:
“to harness even a millionth of our Sun’s energy would require over a million times more energy than our civilization currently uses.”³
It sounds like science fiction. But here's the thing — he's not the only one saying it.
Jeff Bezos made similar comments at Italian Tech Week last year:
"We will be able to beat the cost of terrestrial data centres in space in the next couple of decades. These giant training clusters will be better built in space, because we have solar power there, 24/7 — no clouds, no rain, no weather."⁴
And Google has announced Project Suncatcher, a partnership with Planet Labs to put TPUs in orbit.⁵
When three of the most influential figures in tech converge on the same thesis within months of each other, it's probably not a coincidence.
The Early Movers
Now, while SpaceX is filing million-satellite proposals and Bezos is talking decades, there are companies already putting hardware in orbit.
Orbit AI, which Intellistake has invested in and has a collaboration framework agreement with, successfully launched its first satellite — DeStarlink Genesis-1 — back in December 2025.⁶Orbit AI’s sattelite now operating in low Earth orbit, producing solar power and running initial AI inference payloads.
That's not a proposal. That's not a filing. That's a functioning satellite.
Genesis-1 marked the first step in what Orbit AI calls the "Orbital Cloud" — an architecture where AI compute, connectivity, and blockchain verification happen directly in orbit, powered entirely by solar energy. Orbit AI plans to deploy 5-8 additional nodes later this year.
From Ground to Orbit
Our involvement with Orbit AI isn't about trying to compete with SpaceX but, through our collaboration framework, Intellistake is preparing to support future Orbital Cloud initiatives — including ground-side infrastructure, communications coverage, and verification systems.⁷ This positions us to engage with orbital AI at the design and integration stage, not after the market has matured and the opportunity has passed.
Think of it this way. When major technology shifts happen, there's usually a window where infrastructure partnerships precede mass adoption. The companies that position themselves during that window tend to benefit when the wave arrives. That's the approach we're taking.
Orbit AI's successful launch demonstrates early execution in a space where many larger players remain in planning or proposal stages. And our planned role is tied to how this infrastructure may be supported, validated, and scaled over time.
The Scale of What's Coming
SpaceX's FCC filing is ambitious, to put it mildly. A million satellites is roughly 70 times the number of active satellites currently in orbit.¹ The company is framing this as a step toward becoming a "Kardashev Type II civilization" — one that can harness a meaningful fraction of the Sun's energy.
Whether they hit that timeline or not, the direction of travel seems clear. Multiple large players — SpaceX, Blue Origin, Google — are converging on the same thesis: that the economics of space-based compute will eventually beat terrestrial alternatives.
The combined markets for orbital satellites, in-orbit data centres, blockchain verification, and solar-powered digital infrastructure are projected to exceed $700 billion over the next decade.⁸ That's not a niche. That's a significant opportunity for companies positioned in the right part of the value chain.
The Scale of What's Coming
Is space-based AI inevitable? Possibly. The physics make sense. Solar power is essentially unlimited up there. Cooling is free. And the power constraints currently choking terrestrial AI infrastructure don't exist in orbit.
But "inevitable" and "imminent" are different things. SpaceX's Starship still needs to prove reusability. Regulatory approval for a million satellites isn't guaranteed. And there are legitimate concerns about orbital congestion and debris that will need to be addressed.
What I find interesting is the contrast between announcements and execution. While the giants are filing proposals and talking timelines measured in decades, smaller players like Orbit AI are already in orbit. Genesis-1 is functioning. The roadmap is progressing.
At Intellistake, we're not betting on any single outcome. We're positioning for a structural shift that multiple credible players are now actively pursuing. Our collaboration with Orbit AI reflects that approach — early engagement with emerging infrastructure, before it becomes fully institutionalised.
This mirrors earlier technology cycles where infrastructure partnerships preceded mass adoption. Whether it's the buildout of cloud computing, mobile networks, or renewable energy — the pattern tends to repeat. Early positioning matters.
None of this is a prediction. Just observation. But when Musk merges his companies around a space-based AI thesis, Bezos publicly endorses orbital data centres, and Google starts putting chips in orbit — it's probably worth paying attention to what's happening above our heads.
Disclaimer
There has been significant volatility in digital assets and their value can decline rapidly, which in turn would lead to a decline in the stock price of companies holding digital assets. Intellistake is a start-up that does not have the same access to capital as other larger more established companies.
Intellistake has just commenced operating its business and is at an early stage of development. Intellistake is entering this space by acquiring and operating blockchain validator hardware that supports AI networks and investing in AI-related digital tokens to primarily operate validator hardware.
Intellistake is reliant on Orbit AI for the financing and technical execution of the planned satellite launches. Intellistake’s involvement is limited to providing the validator and node infrastructure. The amount of any future revenues or benefits that may accrue to Intellistake has not yet been determined.
Intellistake is presently evaluating the regulatory framework for tokenization. Any tokenization will be subject to it being completed in compliance with applicable law, regulatory requirements and terms of any underlying agreements associated with the underlying assets. The actual structure of such tokenization, the assets that would be subject to tokenization, and the associated timeline, have not yet been determined. Intellistake will provide further updates as material developments related to this tokenization strategy occur.
Intellistake is developing custom AI software systems called "AI Agents" for businesses. It recently announced the development of IntelliScope, a newly designed enterprise artificial-intelligence (AI) suite that applies decentralized AI technologies to deliver transparent and verifiable corporate intelligence. IntelliScope, which is in testing, is being publicly introduced as Intellistake's enterprise AI suite, reflecting the Company's focus on advancing practical applications of decentralized AI technologies.
The IntelliScope suite is being developed as a collection of modular AI agents, each intended to address specific enterprise challenges. Development has advanced through internal closed testing, where functionality is being refined and validated. Built to leverage decentralized AI technologies developed within the ASI Alliance FET token ecosystem, IntelliScope is now preparing to move into closed beta testing with an enterprise client, a phase focused on gathering feedback to shape premium features and expand real-world use cases.
The Company intends to deliver these solutions either as one-time projects or ongoing subscription services. Revenue is expected to come from implementation fees and monthly subscription payments. The Company does not presently have any customers. Intellistake is just commencing operations. It is targeting significant growth but its business is subject to several risks related to general business, economic and social uncertainties; the sufficiency of cash to meet liquidity needs; legislative, political and competitive developments; the inherent risks involved in the digital currency and general securities markets; the volatility of digital currency prices and the additional risks identified in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company’s filings with applicable securities regulators. Intellistake has not yet developed or commercialized its AI solutions.
Completion of the Singularity Venture Hub (“SVH”) acquisition remains subject to completion of satisfactory due diligence, the negotiation, and execution of a definitive agreement ("Definitive Agreement") that will include representations, warranties, covenants, indemnities, termination rights, and other provisions customary for a transaction of this nature, no objection from the Canadian Securities Exchange, and shareholder approval of SVH, if required.
This report contains "forward-looking information" concerning anticipated developments and events related to the Company that may occur in the future. Forward looking information contained in this report includes, but is not limited to, all statements in respect of the Company's growth and development, the operations and business segments of the Company, support for decentralized AI and blockchain networks, the details of the collaboration with Orbit AI and its expected benefits; the Company’s contributions towards the collaboration with Orbit AI; the timelines for Orbit AI’s operation; and Intellistake’s strategy to support tokenized, decentralized AI infrastructure.
In certain cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "expects", "intends", "anticipates" or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "would", or "might" suggesting future outcomes, or other expectations, assumptions, intentions or statements about future events or performance. Forward-looking information contained in this report is based on certain assumptions regarding, among other things, the Company and Singularity Venture Hub (“SVH”) are satisfied with their respective due diligence; the Company and SVH enter into a definitive agreement for the transaction; the Company and SVH satisfy all conditions necessary to close the proposed transaction; the Company will continue to have access to financing until it achieves profitability; the Company is able to raise sufficient financing to complete the announced investment into Orbit AI; obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals; the technology and blockchain industries in which the Company intends to focus its business in will grow at the rate and in the manner expected; the ability to attract qualified personnel; the success of market initiatives and the ability to grow brand awareness; the ability to distribute Company's services; the Company creates strategies to mitigate risks associated with cryptocurrency price fluctuations; the Company and SVH remain compliant with all applicable laws and securities regulations and applicable licensing requirements; the Company engages and collaborates with local experts, as necessary, to address jurisdiction-specific matters and ensures compliance with foreign regulations to avoid penalties; the Company addresses any potential cybersecurity threats promptly and effectively; the ability of the Company to develop its technology, acquire customers and have revenue; the ability to successfully deploy the new business strategy as a result of the change of business. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable, they may be incorrect.
Forward looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed by the forward-looking information. Such factors include risks related to general business, economic and social uncertainties; the Company fails to raise sufficient financing to complete the announced investment into Orbit AI; Orbit AI is unable to raise sufficient financing to complete its launch of satellites on the timelines proposed or at all; technical risks associated with Orbit AI’s planned operations; failure of the Company and SVH enter into a definitive agreement for the transaction; failure of the Company and SVH to satisfy all conditions necessary to close the proposed transaction; failure to raise the capital necessary to fund its operations; inability to create strategies to mitigate the risks associated with cryptocurrency price fluctuations; the costs of regulation in the digital asset industries increase to the extent that the Company is no longer generating sufficient returns for shareholders; failure to promptly and effectively address cybersecurity threats; insufficient resources to maintain its operations on a competitive basis; and the actual costs, timing and future plans differs expectations; legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; the inherent risks involved in the cryptocurrency and general securities markets; the Company may not be able to profitably liquidate its current digital currency inventory, or at all; a decline in digital currency prices may have a significant negative impact on the Company's operations; the Company's success may depend on the continued involvement of key personnel, including advisors, whose involvement cannot be guaranteed; institutional adoption of decentralized AI infrastructure remains uncertain and may not occur at the pace or scale anticipated; evolving regulatory frameworks, including those related to AI (such as Canada's proposed Artificial Intelligence and Data Act), may impose additional compliance burdens or restrict certain business activities; valuation figures are based on publicly available market data and internal assessments at the time of the referenced transactions and may not reflect current or future valuations; the volatility of digital currency prices; the inherent uncertainty of cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses, currency fluctuations; regulatory restrictions, liability, competition, loss of key employees and other related risks and uncertainties; delay or failure to receive regulatory approvals; failure to attract qualified personnel, labour disputes; and the additional risks identified in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's filings with applicable Canadian securities regulators.
Although the Company has attempted to identify factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is made as of the date of this report. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update forward-looking information.
