Home / Technology / Lunar Startup Races to Extract Rare $20M/kg Mineral for Fusion and Quantum Tech
Lunar Startup Races to Extract Rare $20M/kg Mineral for Fusion and Quantum Tech
16 Nov
Summary
- Lunar mineral worth $20M/kg, 150x more valuable than gold
- Startup Interlune developing tech to extract and deliver it from the Moon
- Mineral crucial for fusion power, quantum computing, and nuclear security
In 2025, a Seattle-based startup called Interlune is at the forefront of a potential "lunar gold rush" as it races to extract a rare mineral from the Moon's surface. This mineral, valued at a staggering $20 million per kilogram, is roughly 150 times more valuable than gold due to its critical applications in fusion power plants, quantum computing, and national security.
Interlune has designed a prototype excavator and a plan to bring this valuable lunar resource back to Earth. The company is leveraging the infrastructure being developed by NASA's Artemis Program, which aims to establish a sustained human presence on the Moon. Interlune's Helium-3 extraction process will also allow it to harvest this fusion fuel from the lunar surface, further bolstering the company's ambitious plans.
