Jed McCaleb, one of the minds behind Ripple and Stellar, is now turning his cryptocurrency profits toward a new horizon: space exploration. He’s the lead investor behind Vast Space, a startup with ambitious plans to put Haven-1 into orbit by 2026, marking it as the world’s first commercial space station.
Max Haot, CEO of Vast Space, detailed that Haven-1 will be a station focused not on space tourism, but rather on fostering a productive environment for work and research. The station’s design is aimed at supporting government and private missions with precise scientific and technological objectives, potentially serving as a replacement for the International Space Station and seeking future contracts with NASA.
McCaleb, whose previous ventures include the notorious Mt. Gox and Ripple itself, is fully committed to this project. He revealed that he is prepared to risk up to a billion dollars, but is convinced that the game is worth it. “Supporting the expansion of human life beyond planet Earth requires the courage to take big risks,” he expressed.
McCaleb’s decision to use his XRP earnings to fund this project has been met with mixed reactions from crypto enthusiasts. Since leaving Ripple in 2013 following disagreements with the management team, he has gradually sold off his XRP holdings between 2014 and 2022, accumulating around $3.3 billion. This financial move has been criticized by some, who felt it depreciated the value of XRP.
Ripple, Mt. Gox Founder Bets $1 Billion That He Can Replace the International Space Station
Jed McCaleb is betting his fortune on Vast Space’s effort to create a successor to the aging space station.
— Victor Julio (@VictorVimo6) March 24, 2025
Responding to criticism, McCaleb maintained his stance of transparency: “I was always clear with the Ripple community about my intentions and beliefs, which no longer aligned with the project, before divesting my investment,” he shared on X.
On the other hand, Chris Larsen, also a co-founder of Ripple, supported McCaleb’s new space venture, celebrating it as a reflection of American innovation. He expresses infectious optimism about the project’s potential for success.
This initiative, if carried out as planned, will demonstrate how capital acquired through cryptocurrencies can be channeled to drive significant innovations, particularly at the forefront of space exploration.