Ripple co-founder Jed McCaleb's space startup Vast is in talks for a $2 billion valuation funding round

PANews December 16 News, according to Forbes, sources familiar with the matter revealed that the startup Vast, dedicated to building the world’s first commercial space station, is in negotiations for a $300 million funding round, valuing the company at $2 billion. The person stated that this round of funding will be led by Balerion Space Ventures and noted that negotiations are still ongoing, and the figures may change. So far, the company has been primarily self-funded by Jed McCaleb. McCaleb is the founder of the crypto companies Ripple and Stellar, from which he has earned billions of dollars. He has previously stated his willingness to invest up to $1 billion of personal wealth. Vast plans to launch its first space station prototype, “Haven - 1,” in 2026, and will begin sending parts of its next space station, “Haven - 2,” in 2028. The space station aims to replace NASA’s International Space Station. Earlier in March this year, Ripple co-founder Jed McCaleb shared details about his space station company’s Vast multi-billion dollar space station project.