2024 marks a number of important milestones for the crypto community, be it the Bitcoin Halving leading to further consolidation of the mining industry or Bitcoin finally breaking the $100,000 barrier during the bull run or the overall market capitalization of the crypto industry increasing from $1.2 trillion to $3.78 trillion in 2023 or a 78-year-old eccentric politician winning the US Presidential election, truly riding the crypto wave.

The year was also not without its share of drama as we saw the imprisonment of FTX’s Sam Bankman Fried and Binance’s CZ and the heavy criticism of WazirX’s Nischal Shetty, who withheld funds worth Rs 2,500 crore. Various memecoin projects were also criticized for promoting self-harm, violent acts or staging rugpull scams. 2024 also saw a tug-of-war between the crypto community and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over regulations in the United States.

In this article, we introduce you to the ten most notable figures of 2024 who have made a huge impact on the crypto economy and the global crypto scene, leaving their mark over time.

10. Nischal Shetty

Some call him a business prodigy, others call him a fraudster and a blatant liar, and some consider him the victim of an unfortunate hack. Nischal Shetty, 38, co-founder of India’s previously largest cryptocurrency exchange, WazirX, remains one of the most controversial figures of 2024.

After the WazirX hack that caused a loss of Rs 2000 crore in July this year, Nischal came under the radar of many angry customers and law enforcement agencies, due to some poor decisions by the WazirX management.

Some of the most controversial moves Nischal made after the hack included stopping withdrawals of remaining funds from the exchange, deducting Rs 100 crore from remaining user funds to cover administrative costs, lying to WazirX’s 4.4 million users about the ownership struggle with Binance, and forcing them to accept a socialist 55/45 loss-sharing policy after the hack. What most upset WazirX users was the fact that an Indian exchange was facing trial in a Singaporean court while Nischal himself was living in Dubai.

Nischal has made a lot of promises to his users by 2025, including quickly distributing the remaining funds, restarting trading on WazirX, and launching India’s largest decentralized exchange, which will be re-registered in Singapore. I guess some things never change.

9. Hester Peirce

A commissioner of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Hester Peirce was affectionately known as “Crypto Mom” for her pro-crypto stance during the SEC’s extremely hostile five-year tenure under Chairman Gary Gensler. As an SEC commissioner, Peirce supported calls for a hands-off approach to regulating the cryptocurrency industry, seeking a balance between regulating the industry and protecting consumers.

In 2024, Peirce fought for sensible and appropriate crypto regulations, condemning some of the SEC's enforcement actions as "overreaching." Her biggest advocacy effort this year was pushing for safe harbor rules for crypto projects that would allow developers to tinker longer without the threat of being shut down.

Since her appointment to the SEC in 2018, she has made headlines primarily for her advocacy for new technologies, but with a caveat. As one of the most influential voices discussing the future of policy in the cryptocurrency space, Peirce’s impact is significant, and her work in 2024 will ensure that decision-makers in Washington, DC, continue to include the crypto community in shaping future blockchain and cryptocurrency regulation.

8. Sam Bankman Fried

“Crypto Bros” poster boy Sam Bankman Fried was living the dream until 2023 when FTX, the world’s most popular exchange he founded, collapsed. With FTX accused of mismanagement, fraudulent activities, and using customer funds to trade and invest in extremely dangerous projects, Sam Bankman became the target of the SEC and other law enforcement agencies. FTX’s collapse caused billions of dollars in losses and had a major negative impact on investors, raising doubts about the stability of the cryptocurrency market.

Bankman-Fried’s trial and sentencing in 2024 only served to solidify his eventual fate as he was sentenced to 25 years in prison. He was convicted of fraud and conspiracy; thus, he remains one of the most prominent figures in the crypto space to face legal consequences related to the cryptocurrency market. His trial and the information released during the trial have become an example of what could turn into a modern fairy tale for crypto enthusiasts and potential investors.

The Bankman-Fried story is the story of Icarus, the boy with golden wings, who was warned not to fly too high and too close to the sun, and he ended up flying too close and his wings melted, causing him to fall to the ground.

7. Bhutanese people

In November 2024, the small Himalayan nation of Bhutan made international headlines when it revealed that it owned around $1 billion in Bitcoin, making it one of the world’s largest holders of Bitcoin. Bhutan, also known for its happiness index, has used its vast hydroelectric resources to mine Bitcoin and built up an impressive BTC reserve that could put larger nations to shame.

Bhutan’s bitcoin mining policy is built on the concept of being environmentally friendly considering the fact that the country has huge hydroelectric power reserves that they can tap into during the mining process. This green mining model fits well with Bhutan’s sustainable development goals as it sets the country up as an example of a country that wants to combine cryptocurrency and renewable energy.

The fixed reserve accounts for Bitcoin and domestic mining operations are considered to have a positive impact on the country’s economic diversification given the volatility of the international economy. Although Bhutan has not disclosed the extent of its Bitcoin ownership, its growing involvement in the use of Bitcoin shows that the country is embracing the future and taking measures to help them embrace technological advancement without causing environmental destruction.

6. Michael Saylor

American entrepreneur and MicroStrategy founder Michael Saylor continues to dominate the crypto news cycle with his extremely bullish stance on Bitcoin. As BTC reaches all-time highs in the current bull run, MicroStrategy under Saylor continues to buy.

Known for his extremely bullish stance on Bitcoin, Saylor ventured into the digital currency world in 2020 after MicroStrategy became the first public company to invest in Bitcoin as a primary treasury reserve asset. Thanks to his forward-thinking approach, MicroStrategy has transformed into a tech giant focused on cryptocurrencies as the intersection between traditional business and innovative cryptocurrencies.

In 2024, Saylor is more bullish than ever on Bitcoin. In a recent interview, he stated that he would not hesitate to call Bitcoin “Cyber ​​Manhattan.” According to Saylor, Bitcoin is more than a store of value; it is digital gold with all the potential to revolutionize the economy. His comments are consistent with his historical stance that the world’s largest cryptocurrency is a store of value and monetary instrument of the future, especially given its continued volatility.

5. Changpeng Zhao (CZ)

For Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, or CZ, 2024 was a rollercoaster ride, as the world watched the crypto maverick get jailed for four months for failing to comply with US regulations and then, emerge from prison with his new 'Walter White' look.

CZ or Changpeng Zhao is a major figure in the crypto world but in 2024, he was cornered by the SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) for accusing Binance of violating financial laws and mishandling customer funds. This happened at the same time as other regulators in the United States began cracking down on crypto exchanges.

There were indications that CZ might be charged with criminal charges, which sparked rumors that he wanted to step down. However, CZ remained in the news throughout 2024 as Indian WazirX users also urged him to step in and help them financially. However, to their great disappointment, CZ refused to help in this regard.

4. Elon Musk

Tech mogul, eccentric billionaire, owner of X (formerly Twitter), SpaceX and Tesla, and now head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Elon Musk, has had an eventful 2024.

As one of the most vocal supporters of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, Musk remains an unconventional and influential figure who has embraced Trump’s libertarian views on the economy as a perfect fit for his vision of transforming technology and space. In 2024, Musk invested both emotionally and materially in Trump’s campaign, hosting lavish fundraisers and leveraging his connections in the tech and cryptocurrency industries.

In 2024, Musk repeatedly spoke of the popular memecoin Dogecoin as the ideal asset for the future of money. He went one step further by announcing that he would officially join the DOGE team alongside Vivek Ramaswamy. A strong advocate of free speech, Musk has been criticized for allowing hate speech and racism to infiltrate X.

3. Nayib Bukele

President of El Salvador, former young entrepreneur, and perhaps the first cryptocurrency or Bitcoin enthusiast president in history, Nayib 'Chivo' Bukele ranks third on the list of top crypto newsmakers of 2024.

Bukele has been dubbed the internet's "coolest dictator"; a reformer who has brought about radical changes to the law, order and economic conditions of the Central American nation of El Salvador, otherwise ravaged by gang violence and corruption. Whether it's the incarceration of more than 70,000 suspected gang members, stricter law enforcement and a nationwide anti-violence campaign, Bukele has made a point of making El Salvador a safe country again.

In addition to his uncompromising image, Bukele and his government have invested heavily in Bitcoin. During his presidency, Nayib legalized Bitcoin as a currency and also proposed using the country’s volcanoes for green mining. His bold initiatives are revolutionizing how countries can engage in Bitcoin mining in a greener way.

Bukele also met Tesla CEO Elon Musk in September at the company’s Gigafactory in Austin Texas 2024. They spent hours discussing Artificial Intelligence, Cryptocurrencies, and many other areas, respecting each other’s views. Bukele is well-known throughout Latin America and is considered one of the most influential leaders among today’s youth.

2. Donald Trump

Trump is still trailing Joe Biden as of July 2024, just four months before the US presidential election begins. Trump has shown support for the crypto community in the US but it is a relationship that is still in its early stages as both sides distance themselves from each other.

Then, during a rally in Pennsylvania on July 13, Trump was shot by a 20-year-old assassin, who survived with only a wound to his ear. The assassination changed the trajectory of the US presidential election as Elon Musk and then the crypto community came out in full support of him.

Trump has also made an effort to reach out to the community, promising to make the US the Bitcoin capital of the world, mine every Bitcoin in the US, and create a Bitcoin strategic reserve asset. He also promised to fire SEC Chairman Gary Gensler, who is deeply unpopular in the crypto community, on his first day in office in 2025.

In fact, Trump’s victory over Kamala on November 4 and 5 played a key role in sending Bitcoin to unprecedented heights and eventually breaking the $100,000 barrier. Following his victory, Trump announced the creation of DOGE under the leadership of Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy and promised expansion plans to promote the interests of cryptocurrency investors.

1. Satoshi Nakamoto

The real OG of blockchain, Satoshi Nakamoto, considered the creator of Bitcoin, refuses to fade from public memory, even 15 years after vanishing into obscurity. Satoshi remains a top newsmaker in the crypto community in 2024 as there have been several attempts to reveal his identity.

From an HBO documentary claiming developer Peter Todd was the real Satoshi to a clown holding a chaotic press conference in London, everyone wants to see the face behind Nakamoto, but the mystery continues to this day. There are also concerns that Satoshi could face jail time if his identity becomes public.

When Bitcoin reached its all-time high during the 2024 bull run, Satoshi’s BTC fortune exceeded $100 billion. The man, the legend, remains a mystery to this day although the world still wonders who the legendary creator is.