Ripple Co-Founder Funds Space Station with XRP Profits

Jed McCaleb, co-founder of Ripple and Stellar, is reinvesting capital obtained from selling XRP into an emerging sector: space exploration. Through his startup, Vast Space, McCaleb is funding the development of Haven-1, a commercial space station planned for 2026.

The project, focused on orbital infrastructure, has the potential to attract government contracts, including from NASA. Replacing the International Space Station could open a new market for private space investments, similar to the SpaceX model.

McCaleb generated approximately $3.3 billion from gradually selling XRP between 2014 and 2022. These funds now allow him to finance a sector where private capital is playing an increasingly important role.

Market reactions are mixed. While some see this move as a sign of crypto capital’s maturation, others highlight the high risks associated with such a large-scale project. Despite the controversies, Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen views Vast as an example of technological pioneering with significant economic implications.