Jed McCaleb, known for his projects Mt. Gox, Ripple, and Stellar, is investing half his crypto fortune into the development of a commercial space station.
Jed McCaleb's Space Bet
McCaleb's company, Vast Space, plans to launch the Haven-1 space station by May 2026, a key step towards securing a NASA contract to replace the International Space Station (ISS). He is willing to risk up to $1 billion if Vast cannot compete with players like Blue Origin and Lockheed Martin.
Collaboration with SpaceX
Vast Space is actively collaborating with SpaceX, relying on their services for docking, internet connection, and astronaut transportation. The company also intends to implement artificial gravity to address some health effects of long-term space travel.
From Crypto to Space Ventures
McCaleb's transition into the space industry is unconventional. He sold Mt. Gox in 2011 before it was hacked for $400 million, and later created Ripple and Stellar. Now, he is looking towards a future with colonies on other planets.
With the launch of Haven-1 just two years away, McCaleb's high-stakes bet could redefine commercial space travel or cost him a fortune, but his vision sets the course for the future of space industry.
