A recent tweet from crypto enthusiast The XRP Girl has reignited discussions about the connections between Ripple, Stellar, and SpaceX.
The tweet highlights Jed McCaleb’s role in founding both Ripple and Stellar, as well as his current involvement in space-related ventures. This has led to speculation regarding the deeper implications of his departure from Ripple and the potential strategic direction of Stellar.
Sooo the man that founded Ripple, is the cofounder of stellar!
Oh yea, and is partnered with SpaceX
So maybe don’t completely write off stellar pic.twitter.com/b91TMYvLBw
— The Xrp Girl (@TheXrpGirl) February 9, 2025
Jed McCaleb’s Role in Ripple and Stellar
Jed McCaleb played a significant role in the early days of both Ripple and Stellar. He co-founded Ripple in 2012 when it was still known as OpenCoin but left in 2013 due to internal disagreements. Despite his departure, McCaleb retained a large amount of XRP, which he sold over time through a structured agreement with Ripple. His final XRP liquidation occurred in 2022.
Following his exit from Ripple, McCaleb co-founded Stellar in 2014. The Stellar Development Foundation (SDF) was established to promote financial inclusion and decentralized financial solutions. Unlike his short tenure at Ripple, McCaleb remained actively involved with Stellar for nearly a decade, serving as its Chief Technology Officer.
His extended presence at Stellar, compared to his brief time at Ripple, has led to speculation about what differences in vision or strategy led him to leave Ripple so quickly but stay at Stellar for much longer.
In 2023, McCaleb stepped down from his active role at Stellar to focus on other ventures, particularly his space startup, Vast, which aims to develop artificial gravity space stations.
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The SpaceX Connection and Its Implications
The tweet also touches on McCaleb’s current venture, Vast, and its ties to the space industry. While there is no direct corporate connection between Ripple, Stellar, and SpaceX, the fact that McCaleb is now focusing on space technology raises questions about whether his broader ambitions align with companies like SpaceX.
In 2023, Ripple was linked to SpaceX through a partnership with Jared Isaacman, the founder of Shift4 Payments and a key SpaceX collaborator. This partnership was part of a charitable initiative rather than a direct business collaboration between Ripple and SpaceX.
The timing of this initiative coincided with Ripple’s ongoing legal battle with the SEC, leading some to speculate whether potential larger partnerships were delayed due to regulatory uncertainty.
Speculation and Market Sentiment
McCaleb’s abrupt departure from Ripple after only a year, followed by his long-term involvement with Stellar, has fueled speculation about the strategic differences between the two projects.
Some in the crypto community believe that McCaleb may have had a vision for a more decentralized financial system that he could not fully implement at Ripple but was able to pursue through Stellar.
Additionally, his recent focus on space technology raises further questions about whether Stellar’s long-term strategy could have ties to space-based financial systems or interplanetary commerce. However, no evidence currently supports this theory.
Disclaimer: This content is meant to inform and should not be considered financial advice. The views expressed in this article may include the author’s personal opinions and do not represent Times Tabloid’s opinion. Readers are urged to do in-depth research before making any investment decisions. Any action taken by the reader is strictly at their own risk. Times Tabloid is not responsible for any financial losses.
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