Chris Larsen is an American business executive, investor, and the co-founder of multiple successful technology startups in Silicon Valley. One of his most notable ventures is Ripple Labs, Inc., the company behind Ripple, a blockchain-based solution for real-time gross settlement and currency exchange. Before Ripple, Larsen co-founded the online mortgage lender E-Loan in 1996, a pioneer in providing consumers with free access to their FICO credit scores. Under his leadership, E-Loan’s market value surged to an estimated $1 billion by 2000.

After selling E-Loan to Banco Popular in 2005, Larsen went on to co-found Prosper Marketplace, the first peer-to-peer lending platform in the U.S. His career has been characterized by a strong pro-consumer ethos, especially in advocating for financial privacy and transparency. Larsen has continued his work in the financial sector through Ripple, aiming to revolutionize global money transfers by reducing costs and increasing efficiency. His leadership has made Ripple a critical player in cross-border payment technology, with a focus on empowering consumers and financial institutions alike.