Ripple Co-Founder Jed McCaleb Invests $1 Billion in Space Station Venture

Jed McCaleb, a prominent figure in the cryptocurrency world and co-founder of Ripple, has announced an ambitious venture into space exploration. Through his company Vast Space, McCaleb is investing a significant amount of his fortune, earned from selling XRP, to develop a commercial space station called Haven-1. This project is primarily funded through the sale of XRP, the cryptocurrency associated with Ripple. The Haven-1 space station is designed to focus on productivity and mission success, aiming to launch by 2026.

Vast Space’s CEO, Max Haot, explained that the station is not meant for tourism. Instead, the goal is to create an environment focused on work, team efficiency, safety, and communication. The station is designed to support government astronauts as well as privately funded missions with serious objectives in orbit. If successful, Vast could even help replace the aging International Space Station and become a strong contender for NASA contracts.

McCaleb, known for launching major crypto projects like Mt. Gox and Ripple, is fully committed to this mission. He admitted that he could lose up to $1 billion if things don’t go as planned, but said the long-term vision is worth the risk. He emphasized the need for people to support the idea of human life beyond Earth and believes few are willing to take that level of risk.

The XRP community has mixed feelings about McCaleb’s move. After leaving Ripple in 2013 due to internal disputes, McCaleb sold off his XRP holdings from 2014 to 2022. His sales—totaling around $3.3 billion—sparked criticism from some XRP supporters who claimed he hurt the project’s value. McCaleb defended his actions, saying he was transparent about leaving Ripple before selling his tokens, giving others a chance to act first. He also reminded the community that he never forced anyone to switch to Stellar Lumens, though that option was available.

Despite the backlash, Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen has voiced support for the space initiative. He praised Vast as an example of American innovation and said he’s hopeful about its success. According to Larsen, this kind of bold ambition is something the country used to embrace. If Vast achieves its goals, it will serve as a powerful example of how crypto wealth can be used to fuel real-world advancements in science and technology—especially in areas as ambitious as space exploration.