Introduction
Chris Larsen and Jed McCaleb are two of the most influential figures in the world of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. Larsen is the co-founder of Ripple, one of the largest cryptocurrency companies in the world, while McCaleb is the founder of Stellar, another popular cryptocurrency platform.
In this article, we will explore the backgrounds and achievements of these two tech titans.
About Chris Larsen
Birth and Career
Chris Larsen was born in 1960 in San Francisco, California. He attended San Francisco State University, where he earned a degree in international business and accounting. After college, Larsen worked for several companies in the tech industry, including Chevron and E-Loan, before co-founding several successful startups.
In 1996, Larsen co-founded E-Loan, an online lending platform that revolutionized the mortgage industry. The company went public in 2004 and was later acquired by Banco Popular in 2005. Larsen then went on to co-found Prosper, a peer-to-peer lending platform, in 2005. Prosper quickly became one of the largest peer-to-peer lending platforms in the world, connecting borrowers with investors through its online platform.
Major Break
In 2012, Larsen turned his attention to the world of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology, co-founding Ripple Labs with Jed McCaleb.
Ripple is a blockchain-based payment protocol that allows for fast and low-cost international money transfers. The company’s cryptocurrency, XRP, is currently one of the top 10-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization.
Under Larsen’s leadership, Ripple has become one of the most successful and well-funded blockchain companies in the world. The company has raised over $90 million in funding from top investors such as:
- Andreessen Horowitz and
- Google Ventures,
and has partnered with major financial institutions such as: - Santander and
- American Express.
In addition to his work with Ripple, Larsen is also an active philanthropist. He has donated millions of dollars to charitable causes, including
- The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and
- The University of Colorado at Boulder.
Chris Larsen’s Net worth
As per Forbes, Chris Larsen’s Net Worth is $2.6 Billion. However, it keeps fluctuating due to the volatility in Cryptocurrency prices.
About Jed McCaleb
Jed McCaleb was born in 1975 in Arkansas. He attended the University of California, Berkeley, where he studied computer science. After college, McCaleb worked as a programmer for several tech companies before launching his first startup, eDonkey, in 2000.
Initial Career
eDonkey was a peer-to-peer file sharing platform that quickly became one of the most popular file sharing networks on the internet. However, the platform was shut down by the Recording Industry Association of America in 2005, after facing legal challenges over copyright infringement.
Major Break
Following the shutdown of eDonkey, McCaleb turned his attention to the world of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. In 2011, he founded Mt. Gox, one of the first and largest Bitcoin exchanges in the world.
However, the exchange was hacked in 2014, resulting in the loss of over 850,000 Bitcoins.
After the Mt. Gox debacle, McCaleb founded Stellar, a blockchain-based payment platform that aims to provide low-cost, fast, and secure cross-border payments. Stellar’s cryptocurrency, Lumens (XLM), is currently one of the top 10 largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization.
Under McCaleb’s leadership, Stellar has formed partnerships with major financial institutions and companies, including IBM and Deloitte.
The platform is also used by several non-profit organizations, including the Praekelt Foundation and the Grameen Foundation, to provide financial services to underserved communities in developing countries.
McCaleb is also known for his philanthropy, having donated millions of dollars to charitable causes through the Stellar Development Foundation. He is a strong advocate for the use of blockchain technology to promote financial inclusion and reduce poverty around the world.
Jed McCaleb’s Net Worth
Jed McCaleb’s Networth is $2.4 Billion as per Forbes. It is quite evident that his net worth will fluctuate with the changes in prices of Cryptocurrencies as they are volatile.
Conclusion
Chris Larsen and Jed McCaleb are two of the most influential and successful entrepreneurs in cryptocurrency and blockchain technology arena. Their contributions to the development of innovative blockchain-based platforms have revolutionized the way we think about payments and financial services.
Larsen’s work with Ripple has made international money transfers faster, cheaper, and more efficient than ever before. The company’s partnerships with major financial institutions have brought blockchain technology to the mainstream, and XRP has become one of the most popular cryptocurrencies in the world.
McCaleb’s work with Stellar has focused on providing low-cost, fast, and secure cross-border payments to underserved communities around the world. The platform’s partnerships with non-profit organizations have helped to promote financial inclusion and reduce poverty in developing countries.
Both Larsen and McCaleb are also known for their philanthropy, having donated millions of dollars to charitable causes. Their commitment to using blockchain technology to promote social good has earned them a reputation as two of the most influential and innovative figures in the world of cryptocurrency.
As the blockchain industry continues to evolve and grow, it is likely that Larsen and McCaleb will continue to play important roles in shaping the future of finance and technology.
