The post Mt. Gox & Ripple Co-Founder Jed McCaleb Aims to Replace ISS with Haven-1 appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News
From Crypto to Space! Jed McCaleb, known for founding Mt. Gox and co-creating Ripple, is now aiming for the stars—literally. His latest venture, Vast, is building a commercial space station called Haven-1, which is expected to launch by May 2026. If everything goes as planned, McCaleb could secure a multi-billion-dollar contract from NASA to help replace the aging International Space Station (ISS). But if things go south, he could lose a staggering $1 billion, putting the future of his space dreams in trouble.
Just in: @JedMcCaleb, co-founder of #MtGox and #Ripple, plans to launch Vast’s "Haven-1" space station into orbit and secure a NASA contract by 2026.#CoinPedia #CryptoNews #Blockchain #CryptoMarket
— Coinpedia (@CoinpediaNews) March 21, 2025
Haven-1: The First Step
Vast is developing Haven-1, a 33-foot-long space station set to launch with SpaceX in 2026. It will hold four people and offer basic amenities, but unlike the International Space Station (ISS), it won’t recycle water or air, making it suitable only for short stays. NASA plans to retire the ISS by 2030, and Vast wants to be ready to take its place.
The SpaceX Partnership
McCaleb has always been known as a bold risk-taker, willing to go all-in on ambitious projects. According to his long-time friend and former business partner Sam Yagan, McCaleb is “slightly eccentric” in his willingness to take massive risks. His vision aligns with that of elon musk 
elon musk
Elon Musk Is the Co-founder of Tesla, an investor and entrepreneur. He was born on the 28th of June,1971, and is based in Pretoria, South Africa. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, earning a bachelor's degree in Arts and physics, and the Wharton School, earning a bachelor's degree in science, and economics. In 2003 Musk founded Tesla, an electric vehicle and clean energy company. Elon Musk is a crypto enthusiast, he has a complex relationship with cryptocurrency. He purchased $1.5 billion in the cryptocurrency. Musk was honored with Axel Springer Award, an award given to innovative people, who build new markets, change markets, and contribute to society. He was also listed on Forbes Billionaire with a total net worth of $2 Billion.
[email protected]
EntrepreneurInvestorChief Executive Officer
as both believe in expanding human life beyond Earth.
“There are not that many folks who are willing to dedicate the amount of resources and time and risk tolerance that I am,” McCaleb told Bloomberg. Moreover, Vast has already secured multiple SpaceX launches for Haven-1 and future modules. SpaceX will also provide parts like the docking adapter and Wi-Fi system. If Haven-1 proves successful, Vast plans to launch Haven-2 by 2028, leading to a larger space base with life-support systems.
Jed made billions from crypto, first launching Mt. Gox in 2010, which later collapsed in 2014. He then co-founded Ripple and held 9% of XRP, selling his stake over the years for around $3.2 billion. Despite his wealth, Jed has stayed out of the spotlight and prefers taking big risks quietly.
The Race for NASA’s Contract
Vast is competing with companies like Blue Origin and Axiom Space. But unlike them, Vast is fully self-funded, giving it a unique advantage. Winning the NASA contract in 2026 is crucial—without it, the company may not survive. Jed and Vast’s CEO, Max Haot, are even open to going to space themselves.
The next two years will determine if McCaleb’s space gamble pays off—or if it becomes just another bold but failed experiment.
Never Miss a Beat in the Crypto World!
Stay ahead with breaking news, expert analysis, and real-time updates on the latest trends in Bitcoin, altcoins, DeFi, NFTs, and more.
