Top 20 Crypto Owners with Highest Net Worth, a new class of billionaires, wealth founding crypto exchanges, developing blockchain technologies, or making early investments in digital assets
The cryptocurrency industry has created a new class of billionaires, individuals who have amassed significant wealth through founding crypto exchanges, developing blockchain technologies, or making early investments in digital assets. Below is a list of the top 20 known cryptocurrency owners with the highest net worth, based on estimates as of late 2024 and early 2025. These figures primarily reflect wealth derived from crypto-related ventures, including personal holdings and ownership stakes in crypto businesses. Note that net worth in this volatile market can fluctuate significantly, and these estimates are sourced from publicly available data.
Top 20 Crypto Owners with Highest Net Worth
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Changpeng Zhao (CZ) – $56.4 billion
Founder and former CEO of Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume. His fortune is largely tied to his 90% ownership of Binance. -
Michael Saylor – $10.2 billion
CEO of MicroStrategy, a company that has invested heavily in Bitcoin (owning over 400,000 BTC). Saylor also personally holds a substantial amount of Bitcoin. -
Brian Armstrong – $8.7 billion
Co-founder and CEO of Coinbase, the leading U.S.-based cryptocurrency exchange. He owns approximately 19% of Coinbase. -
Micree Zhan – $4.3 billion
Co-founder of Bitmain, a dominant player in cryptocurrency mining hardware. His wealth stems from his significant stake in the company. -
Song Chi-hyung – $3.7 billion
Founder of Upbit, South Korea’s largest crypto exchange. He holds a major share in Dunamu, Upbit’s parent company. -
Tyler Winklevoss – $3.2 billion
Co-founder of Gemini, a prominent crypto exchange, and an early Bitcoin investor alongside his twin brother, Cameron. -
Cameron Winklevoss – $3.2 billion
Co-founder of Gemini and an early adopter of Bitcoin. Like his brother Tyler, his wealth is tied to both Gemini and personal crypto holdings. -
Chris Larsen – $2.9 billion
Co-founder and executive chairman of Ripple, the company behind XRP. His net worth includes his XRP holdings and Ripple equity. -
Fred Ehrsam – $1.9 billion
Co-founder of Coinbase and founder of Paradigm, a crypto investment firm. He retains a significant stake in Coinbase. -
Barry Silbert – $1.9 billion
Founder and CEO of Digital Currency Group, which owns Grayscale, a leading digital asset manager. His wealth is from investments across the crypto ecosystem. -
Jihan Wu – $1.8 billion
Co-founder of Bitmain and later founder of Matrixport, a crypto financial services firm. His wealth originates from his Bitmain involvement. -
Vitalik Buterin – $1.6 billion
Co-founder of Ethereum, the second-largest cryptocurrency by market cap. His wealth is primarily from his Ether (ETH) holdings. -
Jed McCaleb – $1.4 billion
Co-founder of Ripple and Stellar. He holds significant amounts of XRP and other tokens from his blockchain ventures. -
Tim Draper – $1.2 billion
Venture capitalist known for buying 29,656 Bitcoins in a 2014 U.S. Marshals auction. His wealth reflects his early crypto investments. -
Mike Novogratz – $1.2 billion
CEO of Galaxy Digital, a crypto investment firm. A former hedge fund manager, he’s a prominent crypto advocate. -
Anthony Di Iorio – $1 billion
Co-founder of Ethereum and founder of Decentral, a blockchain innovation hub. He’s an early investor in multiple crypto projects. -
Brock Pierce – $1 billion
Former child actor turned crypto entrepreneur. He co-founded Block.one (behind EOS) and has been active in various blockchain initiatives. -
Matthew Roszak – $1 billion
Co-founder of Bloq, a blockchain infrastructure company, and an early investor in Bitcoin and Ethereum. -
Dan Morehead – $1 billion
Founder of Pantera Capital, one of the first crypto-focused investment firms. His wealth comes from crypto investments. -
Brad Garlinghouse – $1 billion
CEO of Ripple. His fortune is linked to his leadership role at Ripple and his XRP holdings.
Key Considerations
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Satoshi Nakamoto: The mysterious creator of Bitcoin is estimated to own around 1 million Bitcoins, potentially worth over $60 billion at current prices. However, their unknown identity excludes them from this list of known individuals.
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Volatility: The crypto market’s fluctuations mean these net worth estimates are snapshots and may not reflect real-time values. Wealth tied to crypto holdings or company valuations can shift rapidly.
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Focus on Individuals: This list highlights individual owners, not institutions. Companies like MicroStrategy, Tesla, and Grayscale hold significant crypto assets, but they are excluded as the query emphasizes “owners,” interpreted here as individuals.
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Wealth Sources: For many on this list, net worth includes both personal crypto holdings and equity in crypto-related businesses (e.g., exchanges, mining firms, or blockchain projects), reflecting their total financial standing in the crypto space.
This compilation showcases the diverse paths to crypto wealth—whether through visionary leadership, early adoption, or strategic investments—highlighting the transformative impact of cryptocurrencies on personal fortunes.
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