The crypto world is jam-packed with influencers and figures that drive the industry forwards. But not all of them pack the same punch – especially when it comes down to their credentials. If we wrote this 6 months ago, undoubtedly the infamous SBF would have topped our charts, but after his fall from grace, he’d be more at home on a “worst people in crypto” list!
So, let’s dive in and meet hodl.fm’s best people in the crypto space. Buckle up, this is going to be an exciting ride!
1. CEOs and Founders
Sandeep Nailwal – Co-Founder Polygon
Polygon has arguably been one of the most exciting “Layer 2” scaling solutions to arrive on the Ethereum blockchain. It enables fast and cheap transaction throughput, and as a result, has become the numero uno choice for some of the biggest brands entering the crypto space. With the likes of Reddit and Meta using Polygon, it’s safe to say Sandeep Nailwal and his team has absolutely smashed it, taking him into top spot!
Changpeng “CZ” Zhao – CEO & Co-Founder Binance
The legendary Changpeng “CZ” Zhao is a household name, spearheading the largest exchange in the world. Despite the best attempts of the SEC, crypto Twitter FUDsters, and even SBF owned media outlets, CZ and his Binance exchange continue to grow at an insane rate. There isn’t anything on this planet that can stop the Megamind look-alike from conquering the crypto world, and one could argue that Binance is the only exchange you could ever need! He’ll be forever revered as the mastermind that exposed FTX and took it down with a single Tweet. Legends has it that CZ has more power in a single finger than Gary Gensler has in his entire career…
Brian Armstrong – Co-Founder Coinbase
Brian Armstrong is the king of Coinbase, which was the first place most of the crypto world got addicted. Despite being dubbed “the most regulated crypto exchange” it has suffered multiple blows and fines, and even cut its workforce twice in the space of 12 months. Despite this, Armstrong and his baby are soldiering on to bring more newbies into the crypto world! We thank you for your service.
Charles Lee – Founder Litecoin
Love it or hate it, Litecoin has played a pivotal role in the development of the crypto world. Charles Lee’s Litecoin is a fork of Bitcoin that can handle significantly more transactions per second, even if rumors about it having no developers are true. Litecoin will always be the silver to Bitcoin’s Gold.
Ryoshi – Founder Shiba Inu
Nobody is sure if Ryoshi is a person or a group, but either way, this talented enigma brought us Shiba Inu. No, not the dog, but the cryptocurrency! Originally dubbed as the “Dogecoin Killer”, SHIB has grown in popularity, with Vitalik “The Alien” Buterin donating $50 million of SHIB to the COVID Crypto Relief Foundation! Now that’s some bark.
ApeCoin (APE) Founders – ApeCoin
ApeCoin caused a smidge of a stir when it launched in 2022, with a select few cashing out millions of dollars onto unsuspecting FOMOers. The team behind APE are regarded as internet and crypto visionaries, with the likes of Alexis Ohanian, Co-founder of Reddit, and Dean Steinbeck, President & General Counsel at Horizen Labs, at the helm, we’re expecting great things from this DAO.
Vitalik “The Alien” Buterin – Founder Ethereum
Legend has it that Vitalik Buterin is an alien from outer space, and he’s come to planet Earth to revolutionize our financial system. Others believe he’s just a genius. Either way, he’s truly changed the way each and every human interacts with the world, whether we recognize it or not. He’s a true legend that has touched cryptos in more ways than Gary Gensler could ever dream of!
Satoshi Nakamoto – Founder Bitcoin
What list would be complete without Satoshi Nakamoto? While a handful of drug-addled drifters believe that Craig Wright is truly Satoshi Nakamoto, it’s more likely that it was a small group of individuals, based on facts and evidence. Satoshi Nakamoto is the mastermind behind everything crypto, and without his, or their, creations, the crypto and blockchain world may not have even come to life. So, Satoshi, we thank you for your hard work. Craig, we thank you for your comedic efforts.
2. Influencers
Erik Voorhees – Founder & CEO ShapeShift
For those of you that have been in the crypto space for a while, the name Erik Voorhees will mean something. If you have no idea who Voorhees is, he’s the Founder & CEO of ShapeShift, one of the first crypto exchanges to use the “trading pair” mechanic for creating liquidity en-mass. His honied words are enough to get any crypto enthusiast rushed to the emergency room with glee!
Elon Musk – Rocket Man, Son of Emerald Mine Owner
There’s not much in the world that Elon Musk hasn’t touched, and crypto isn’t on that list. A single Tweet from this serial entrepreneur has the power to pump, or dump, any cryptocurrency, stock, or government to the moon and back. He’s got more reach and influence than the Clintons, without the bloodshed. Go Elon!
Snoop Dogg – Rapper & Marijuana Enthusiast
Snoop Dogg started out life as a rapper and recording artist, but as his career unfolded, he branched out into the crypto world. As the backer of multiple NFT projects and his own marijuana brand, this music icon has a cult following and the power to change markets in seconds!
Gary Vee – Founder VaynerMedia
You either love him, or hate him. Gary Vee is the crypto influencer behind VaynerMedia and the VeeFriends NFT collection. Owning one of his NFTs bags you entrance to his rather curious annual “VeeCon”, which is his own conference.
Nayib Bukele – President El Salvador
Nayib Bukele fits into two categories here, so we’ll stuff him here as he’s become a Bitcoin icon after making Bitcoin legal tender in El Salvador. He’s an intrepid trailblazer and is founding the path towards making Bitcoin a globally recognized currency. He’s even using the country’s reserves to buy up Bitcoin – talk about buying the tip in style!
3. Politicians
Andrew Yang – Presidential Candidate 2020
Andrew Yang ran for President of the United States in 2020 and has been one of the biggest crypto supporters ever since. This legend was one of the first politicians to fully endorse Bitcoin, even accepting Bitcoin donations as part of his campaign funding. Yang has even created a web3 DAO that lobbies for crypto on Capitol Hill!
Jared Polis – Governor Colorado
Jared Polis is yet another crypto-friendly politician who accepted crypto donations as part of his campaign. Polis wants you to be able to pay your taxes in Bitcoin, if you wish, and he’s made it his mission to turn the Rockies into a crypto haven. Can he achieve it? Time will tell!
Tulsi Gabbard – Presidential Candidate 2020
Tulsi Gabbard ran for president in 2020 against Trump and Yang, which was possibly one of the most crypto-friendly candidate lists ever. In her declarations, Gabbard revealed that she bought an absolute stash of Litecoin and Ethereum at the peak of the 2017 bull run – talk about FOMO. That’s not the stunning Tulsi Gabbard’s only claim to crypto fame. In 2019, Gabbard backed a bill to block SEC oversight of crypto. This crypto warrior truly loves crypto and has its best interest at heart!
George Galloway – Former Member of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom
George Galloway is somewhat of a lucky duck. Galloway bought his first Bitcoin when it was worth only $10 – is anyone else jealous right now? He’s gone on to support crypto regulation and framework throughout the UK and has become a vocal opponent of scammers, such as SBF, in the crypto space. He might not have a license to kill like 007, but he’s definitely got a license to shill!
Gulnar Hasnain – Former Head of Environment and Sustainability Strategy for the Mayor of London
Why do people in England have such long titles? Gulnar Hasnain has been driving crypto adoption for eons, as the co-founder of st-ART, she spearheaded conferences such as Bitcoin London 2013 and joint Summit San Francisco 2014. She’s a major pioneer and proponent of Bitcoin, blockchain, and virtual currencies, helping them to shape the world that we live in!
Rand Paul – US Senator
Sen Rand Paul has been a proponent of Bitcoin and crypto for quite some time now. In fact, he’s been quoted stating that crypto could replace the dollar as the global reserve currency and instill more confidence in governments. Given that he has the inside track as to how governments operate, we’ll support his views all the way to the top!
Rick Perry – Former Texas Senator
Rick Perry has backed Bitcoin at the highest government levels since 2015, supporting “regulatory breathing room” for Bitcoin and other digital currencies since day 1. For his presidential platform, Perry made digital currencies a core talking point, looking to bolster their adoption. Some could say he helped to lay the framework for the 2017 bull run…
More about famous people in crypto space
Who are the most famous people in crypto?
– You could read our article; we wrote it specifically for this purpose. Too lazy? We got you! Sandeep Nailwal, Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, Brian Armstrong, Satoshi Nakamoto, Erik Voorhees, Tulsi Gabbard. Want to know why? Read the article…
Who are the top crypto people?
– There are lots of people in the crypto space that could be considered the “top”. If we had to bring it down to two people, it’s a close tie between Vitalik “The Alien” Buterin and Changpeng “CZ” Zhao. If you go by the coolest nickname, the alien wins hands down!
Who is the most trusted crypto expert?
– Crypto experts are a dime a dozen, and anyone that calls themselves an “expert” is likely lying. If we had to pick someone that really knows their stuff, it’s got to be Erik Voorhees. His deep-set understanding of crypto and his contributions are second to none!
Who are the big boys in crypto?
– The big boys in crypto are only temporary, but one man appears to be trying his best to make it permanent. Changpeng “CZ” Zhao and his Binance exchange have fought off and survived onslaughts from various regulators, only to come back stronger than ever before. If the regulators (and Killary) can’t kill CZ and Binance, then nobody can!
Who is the biggest crypto owner?
– Let’s just look at Bitcoin for this one as there are billions of tokens and analyzing that to give you a name would be crazy. Satoshi Nakamoto currently has around 1.1 million Bitcoins, but presumed dead, that money will never move again. Yes Craig, you’re not Satoshi… If you’re asking about living people, it’s the Winklevoss Twins. The dynamic Zuckerberg haters and Olympic athletes have a whopping stash of more than 70,000 Bitcoin.
