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- Jed McCaleb is investing $1 billion to launch Haven-1, a private space station backed by SpaceX, by 2026.
- Vast aims to win NASA’s ISS replacement contract and introduce artificial gravity in future orbital habitats.
Jed McCaleb, co-founder of Ripple and Stellar, is making a $1 billion bet on space exploration. His company, Vast Space, plans to launch a commercial space station called Haven-1 by 2026.
Backed by a close partnership with SpaceX, the venture is targeting a critical NASA contract. If successful, it could reshape the future of low-Earth orbit habitation.
A New Frontier: McCaleb’s Shift from Crypto to Orbit
Jed McCaleb, known for his early involvement in crypto ventures like Mt. Gox, Ripple, and Stellar, has now turned to aerospace. After earning billions from XRP token sales and Ripple equity, he founded Vast in 2021. Bloomberg reports McCaleb is investing up to $1 billion into Vast’s operations, making it one of the most heavily self-funded players in the race to build the next-generation space station.
Vast is competing for a NASA contract expected in mid-2026, which will determine the successor to the aging International Space Station (ISS). Unlike Blue Origin, Lockheed Martin, or Axiom Space, Vast relies solely on McCaleb’s private funding. That independence gives the company speed and flexibility but also heightens the risk—especially if the NASA deal falls through.
According to Vast’s CEO Max Haot, a former SpaceX executive, the company has already booked multiple launches with SpaceX. These missions will carry Haven-1 and its crew into orbit. SpaceX is also providing essential systems, including docking adapters, internet via Starlink, and astronaut transportation.
Haven-1 and Beyond: Vast’s Orbital Goals
Haven-1, currently under development, is slated to launch by May 2026. Designed for short-term stays, it won’t yet include recycling systems like those on the ISS. However, Vast aims to incorporate full life-support capabilities by 2028 with Haven-2, intended for longer-duration missions.
Vast is also working on artificial gravity solutions. McCaleb and Haot said they plan to simulate Earth-like gravity through rotation or acceleration. This addresses a key concern for long-term spaceflight, as ISS astronauts have faced health issues, including muscle loss and organ damage.
While Haven-1 is the immediate focus, Vast’s long-term goal is to build a scalable platform for future human colonies in orbit and beyond. McCaleb emphasized the importance of preparing for life beyond Earth, aligning with the broader vision shared by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.
High Stakes and High Risks: A Bold Bet on the Future
McCaleb told Bloomberg that few people are willing to commit to the level of resources and risk tolerance he has. Described by former partner Sam Yagan as a “deliberate risk-taker,” McCaleb has consistently pursued unconventional paths—from eDonkey in the early 2000s to Mt. Gox and Ripple.
His early exit from Mt. Gox in 2011, years before a $400 million hack collapsed the exchange, showed a pattern of moving on before the crisis. After leaving Ripple in 2013, he founded Stellar and helped grow its crypto token XLM, now valued at over $8.7 billion in market cap, according to CoinGecko.
Vast’s future hinges on two critical goals: the successful launch of Haven-1 by 2026 and securing a NASA contract to replace the ISS. Failure in either could cost Jed McCaleb up to $1 billion and cast doubt on the viability of his space venture. Despite the risks, both McCaleb and Vast CEO Max Haot remain fully committed, even expressing their willingness to travel aboard Haven-1.
Meanwhile, former Mt. Gox CEO Mark Karpelès, who entered the blockchain space in 2009 and became a founding member of the Bitcoin Foundation in 2012, continues to be active in the crypto industry. After acquiring Mt. Gox in 2011, Karpelès spent over a decade addressing cybersecurity challenges.
As discussed in our earlier post, in 2023, he was appointed Minister of Technology for Joseon and currently serves as CTO of EllipX, a crypto platform that removes the need for passphrases and offers a user-friendly experience for digital asset trading.
