Billionaire to launch first-ever commercialized space station in 2025 trends now

A new billionaire is joining the space race - a crypto tycoon who will launch the first-ever commercial space station in 2025.

Jed McCaleb, CEO of Vast, announced he is working with Elon Musk's SpaceX to send Haven-1 into space and ferry astronauts to and from the craft.

McCaleb, whose net worth is around $2.4 billion, is known for developing the first legitimate cryptocurrency exchange - but is now thinking above and beyond.

The bus-sized orbital outpost will be home to a four-member crew in 2026, which could include astronauts and private individuals.  

The inaugural 30-day mission will be in 2026, but the cost per seat has not been revealed.

No private company has ever built and deployed a space station, making Vast the first in history if all goes to plan. 

 'Vast is thrilled to embark on this journey of launching the world's first commercial space station, Haven-1, and its first crew, Vast-1,' McCaleb shared in a statement.

'We are grateful to SpaceX for this exciting partnership that represents the first steps in Vast's long-term vision of launching much larger, artificial gravity space stations in Earth orbit and beyond.' 

McCaleb is an American programmer, entrepreneur and philanthropist who is known for founding the cryptocurrency exchange Mt. Gox in 2010.

He will back the spacecraft's development and has committed $300 million to the company.

The total cost for Haven-1's development 'remains to be seen,' McCaleb, also Vast's CEO, said in an interview.

'I think it'll take a bit more than that, but we'll see.'

Haven-1 is designed to fit four crew members, with room to conduct science, research and in-space manufacturing tasks.