Imagine a rock floating between Mars and Jupiter with an estimated value of $10,000 quadrillion. It is not an exaggeration. It is called Psyche 16 and it is one of the most mysterious and coveted celestial bodies in the solar system. Its wealth is so immense that if it could be brought to Earth and distributed, every inhabitant of the planet would become a multi-billionaire. But this, far from sounding like a utopia, could lead to the total collapse of the global economy.
The asteroid, which is about 220 kilometers in diameter, is composed mainly of heavy metals: iron, nickel and probably platinum, gold and other rare elements. So much so that, according to estimates, its value would far exceed the entire world economy, which is around $100 trillion annually, multiplying it by one hundred million. Literally.
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Although it sounds like a science fiction script, NASA has taken it very seriously. The Psyche mission, launched in October 2023, is already on its way to the asteroid. It is expected to arrive in 2029 and orbit it for two years. It does not intend to bring back a speck of dust to Earth, but rather to understand how this object was formed. Scientists believe it could be the exposed core of a failed planet: a remnant from the early days of the solar system, when worlds were still under construction (and destruction).
And there’s more: recent observations with the James Webb Telescope have detected signs of oxidation and even water on its surface. This suggests that Psyche is not only a floating mine, but also a natural laboratory of unexpected geological processes.
The future of capitalism in Psyche 16
What if one day we managed to exploit its resources? The dream of space mining, which is already beginning to emerge as an industry of the future, presents a disturbing scenario. Releasing such a massive amount of metals as those contained in Psyche into the terrestrial market would cause prices to plummet drastically. Iron would become worthless. The same would happen to gold, platinum and nickel. Currencies would be affected. Mining powers would collapse. It would be a bigger shock than any stock market crisis on record.
But it could also be the beginning of a new era: that of a post-terrestrial economy, based on resources from outer space, with orbital stations, lunar colonies and technology powered by ion engines. The future of capitalism may not be on Wall Street, but floating silently in the cosmic darkness, millions of miles away.