Chris Larsen

Chris Larsen is an entrepreneur, angel investor, and blockchain executive with a focus on democratizing access to financial services. Larsen holds a Bachelor of Science degree in international business and accounting from San Francisco State University and an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business. He has advocated for consumer rights and financial privacy, co-founding online lending platforms E-Loan and Prosper Marketplace before moving into cross-border payments and digital asset infrastructure. At E-Loan, Larsen led the initiative to provide consumers with open access to their FICO scores, making E-Loan the first company to do so. He has been an advocate for financial privacy in California and co-founded the coalition Californians for Privacy Now.

Larsen co-founded OpenCoin, later known as Ripple, with Jed McCaleb, David Schwartz, and Arthur Britto. In the blockchain and cryptocurrency sector, Larsen contributed to the creation of RippleNet, a decentralized network that uses the digital asset XRP to facilitate cross-border payments and financial network integration. As CEO and later executive chairman, Larsen guided Ripple in building partnerships with banks, remittance providers, and payment companies, positioning XRP as part of an enterprise solution. Ripple’s network includes more than 100 financial institutions, such as American Express and Santander, and has influenced the financial technology sector.

Larsen played a key role in a high-profile regulatory case in the digital asset sector when the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed a complaint alleging unregistered securities offerings through the sale of XRP. The SEC later dropped all charges against CEO Brad Garlinghouse and co-founder Larsen. The legal resolution led to a settlement in which Ripple agreed to pay $50 million, significantly less than the original amount sought by the SEC. The conclusion of the case allowed for further integration of digital assets into traditional finance, including the approval of spot XRP exchange-traded funds and increased institutional participation.

Ripple has secured significant funding, raising $500 million and reaching a valuation of approximately $40 billion, with backing from major financial firms. The company expanded its On-Demand Liquidity network across more than 70 global markets, processing billions in transaction volume. Larsen is recognized for advancing real-world applications of blockchain technology in traditional finance and continues to influence discussions on digital asset regulation and global financial infrastructure. He appears on the Forbes Billionaires list, reflecting his impact on the global economy.

Outside of Ripple, Larsen is involved in philanthropic and advocacy efforts, particularly in privacy rights and the intersection of technology and finance. Through his foundation, he donated $25 million, primarily in XRP, to San Francisco State University to support innovation and fund endowed chairs in financial technology and entrepreneurship. Larsen serves on the boards and advisory groups of organizations including Betable, Credit Karma, and the Electronic Privacy Information Center. Through his work in entrepreneurship, legal advocacy, and public policy, Larsen remains a prominent figure in finance and technology.