Ripple Cofounder Buys Napa Estate
Crypto billionaire and Ripple cofounder Chris Larsen has purchased a Napa home for $13.5 million. The deal marks the largest residential sale in the area in the last two years.
Chris Larsen, a serial entrepreneur, co-founded the online mortgage lender E-Loan in 1996 and the peer-to-peer lending platform Prosper Marketplace in 2005 before delving into the world of cryptocurrency. He then co-founded Ripple Labs in 2012, which aims to facilitate instant and low-cost international payments using blockchain technology. The Napa estate, purchased for nearly $13.5 million through an LLC managed by Larsen's wife, Lyna Lam, is a 46-acre compound in Calistoga. Formerly a boys' school, the property includes five homes, four vineyards, a lake, and a wine cellar with a 5,000-bottle capacity. The sale price for the property, initially listed at $18.5 million, marks the largest residential transaction in Napa County since 2023. This acquisition comes after a lengthy legal battle for Ripple and Larsen. In December 2020, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) sued Ripple, alleging that its XRP token was an unregistered security. The lawsuit concluded in 2025, with a settlement that included a significant penalty for Ripple but also provided a degree of legal clarity for the company's operations. Beyond his business ventures, Larsen is a notable philanthropist. He and his wife have made significant contributions to various causes through the Larsen Lam Climate Change Foundation. They have also donated millions to San Francisco State University, local food banks, and initiatives focused on public safety in San Francisco.
