5 Of The World’s Richest Crypto Billionaires

Cryptocurrencies are fashionable for a lot of causes, together with the potential to show early adopters and founders into billionaires.

From crypto alternate tycoons to people who’ve stayed through the crypto market’s ups and downs to amass unbelievable fortunes, right here’s a listing of 5 of the world’s richest crypto billionaires, together with people who have been the primary.

5 of the world’s richest crypto billionaires

1. Changpeng Zhao

Changpeng Zhao is a co-founder and former CEO of Binance, one of many world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges.

Zhao began his profession as a software program developer and constructed buying and selling applications, founding his first tech startup in 2005. His flip to crypto began in 2013 when he performed poker with Bobby Lee, then CEO of BTCC, one of many earliest crypto exchanges. Lee urged that Zhao make investments 10 p.c of his money in Bitcoin.

After some analysis although, Zhao offered his residence and wager every thing on Bitcoin, solely to see the coin hunch. However Bitcoin rallied, Zhao held and noticed an opportunity to construct his personal crypto alternate. In 2017, Zhao based Binance, which grew to become worthwhile inside about 90 days.

Zhao led Binance till 2023 when he stepped down after pleading responsible to legal costs for violating U.S. anti-money laundering legal guidelines. Binance paid a $4.3 billion advantageous within the case.

Binance surpassed 250 million registered customers on the finish of 2024, in accordance with the corporate’s 2024 year-end report. Zhao is believed to personal 90 p.c of the alternate, in accordance with Forbes.

Whole web value: $45 billion

2. Brian Armstrong

Brian Armstrong additionally based a preferred crypto alternate — Coinbase (COIN) — in 2012 with Fred Ehrsam. The corporate went public in 2021 on the NASDAQ and in the present day has a market cap of about $89 billion. Armstrong is the CEO.

Like Zhao, Armstrong began as a software program engineer, ultimately becoming a member of Airbnb the place he seen how lengthy it took to ship funds to South America and the way the charges have been excessive and unclear. Armstrong noticed a possibility for crypto to alter that.

Whereas nonetheless at Airbnb, he started coding on nights and weekends to develop a spot to purchase and retailer crypto, which might ultimately turn into Coinbase.

As of late April 2025, Armstrong owns about 13 p.c of Coinbase’s shares, based mostly on proxy-reported holdings and complete shares excellent disclosed within the firm’s Might 10-Q.

Whole web value: $15 billion

3. The Winklevoss twins

The Winklevoss twins, who each occur to be former Olympic rowers, are in all probability most well-known for his or her authorized battle with Mark Zuckerberg over the founding of Fb, claiming the concept for the social community was initially theirs. The twins, Cameron and Tyler, reportedly put $11 million of their Fb settlement into Bitcoin in 2012, turning into the primary Bitcoin billionaires in 2017.

The Winklevosses additionally co-founded Gemini in 2014, one other crypto alternate. Tyler serves because the CEO and Cameron is president. The 2 are believed to personal a majority of the corporate, although that data isn’t publicly disclosed.

Mixed web value: $13.7 billion

4. Giancarlo Devasini

Giancarlo Devasini, a local of Italy, began as a plastic surgeon however shortly switched to the tech trade and began importing pc components. Years later, he received concerned with Tether, the world’s main stablecoin.

Devasini discovered his method into crypto by way of a fascination with Bitcoin and assembly Raphael Nicolle who was constructing Bitfinex, a crypto platform identified for its superior buying and selling capabilities. Devasini grew to become a associate in Bitfinex and served as CFO.

Devasini didn’t create Tether as a forex however based Tether as an organization in 2014 whereas at Bitfinex and was the CFO for years earlier than transitioning to chairman in March 2025.

Devasini is believed to personal a 47 p.c stake in Tether, in accordance with Forbes.

Whole web value: $11.5 billion

5. Michael Saylor

Michael Saylor is the co-founder of Technique, previously often called MicroStrategy (MSTR), a publicly traded software program firm with a market cap of $113 billion that’s finest identified for proudly owning huge quantities of Bitcoin as a part of its funding technique. Saylor was CEO from 1989 to 2022, then grew to become the manager chairman.

Technique skilled a meteoric rise in 2024, and was up practically 700 p.c at one level. Some crypto buyers view the corporate as a technique to amplify Bitcoin bets, however this will not be the wisest strategy to take relating to crypto investing.

Technique continues to be identified for the way a lot Bitcoin it has up its sleeve. As of June 30, 2025, Technique holds 597,325 bitcoins, acquired at a median price of $70,982 every, in accordance with the corporate.

Whole web value: $8.3 billion

Backside line

Although the vast majority of these billionaires are rich from founding a crypto alternate, the golden thread is that they have been concerned within the crypto sport early on. They gambled huge and it paid off, however crypto continues to be a notoriously dangerous funding. You must solely make investments what you’re keen to lose. For long-term buyers, a diversified portfolio with restricted crypto publicity is vital.