Marscoin and the token offering of the platform is a derivative of the Litecoin fork of Bitcoin. Marscoin platform works on open-source software and utilizes blockchain technology. Open-source software is shared as a community source and not a private entity. The establishment of the Marscoin platform and the token is an effort to support the Mars Society and its development. The platform aims to support the settlement on planet Mars and other visions and missions of the Mars Society.

Marscoin runs on the Marscoin blockchain node and aims to provide users with a personalized wallet called the Electrum Marscoin wallet. In addition, the platform is a peer-to-peer model and uses proof of work to secure transactions. A peer-to-peer model is one where the interactions can happen between two individuals without any third-party interference.

Furthermore, MARS is the ticker code for Marscoin. Initially, the platform split the first 1,000,000 Marscoins between the Mars Society and the Mars One. The platform also seeks to encourage the users with facilities like a minimum of two-minute confirmations on the blockchain.

Apart from the facilities, the whitepaper further elaborates the platform's aims in using cryptocurrency, blockchain, and, in turn, Marscoin to make transactions transparent on planet Mars. Additionally, users seek to adopt, use, trade, and donate Mars coins - the platform can aim to help fund the human settlement on Mars by launching the financial system for future Mars bases. A number of projects are underway that aim to leverage the Marscoin infrastructure to advance research into human settlements on Mars. An example is the establishment of a Marscoin-based blockchain experiment at the Mars Desert Research Station.

The journey of Marscoin, the platform, and the blockchain on which it runs began in 2014. The next step was the initial infrastructure development, such as the wallet and other support systems, in 2015–2016. The whitepaper mentions Lennart Lopin, James Burk, and Philipp Puaschunder as the writers of the clear mission and vision of the platform.