Co-founder of XRP cryptocurrency to build his own space station

Jade McKaleb, founder of Mt. Gox and one of the co-creators of XRP $2.14 XRP 1.38% Market capitalization $124.58 billion VOL. 24 hours $0.32 billion , is investing his own funds in the construction of a private space station. The project is being implemented by Vast, a company fully owned by McCaleb. If the plan works out, Vast has a chance to get a multibillion-dollar contract with NASA in 2026. In case of failure, the businessman is ready to lose a billion dollars, noting that the main thing for him is to move humanity towards life beyond Earth.

Construction of the station is already underway. Vast is partnering with SpaceX, which will launch the modules and crew. Haven-1 is designed for four astronauts, will have wooden panels inside and even a communal table for meals. It is slightly larger than an ordinary motorhome. The launch is scheduled for May 2026, although it was originally planned for 2025.

The project is ambitious, as NASA plans to decommission the International Space Station by 2030, and Vast wants to take its place in orbit. If successful, the company will build a second station, Haven-2, which will already have water and air recycling systems, and then deploy a full-fledged base in orbit.

Vast’s competitors include Axiom Space, Blue Origin, and Voyager Space. But it is McCaleb who stands out because he invests his own money and is willing to take personal risks. According to CEO Max Haot, the chance to get a contract with NASA is a matter of the company’s survival. Despite lawsuits and technical difficulties, Vast is expanding, hiring hundreds of new employees.

In the next two years, the fate of the project will be determined. Haven-1 is still under construction, and NASA is conducting inspections. The decision on the contract will be made in mid-2026. Until then, McCaleb continues to make one of the biggest bets of his life — spending cryptocurrency billions on the dream of space.