As the cryptocurrency industry enters 2025, the development of the market is not only driven by technological progress, but also deeply influenced by governments, financial regulators and industry leaders. These key figures have a profound impact on the future direction of cryptocurrency through their policy advocacy, technological innovation and market decision-making. This article summarizes the most influential crypto industry figures in 2025, including their background, relationship with the crypto industry, assets held and policy views, aiming to explore how they will shape the future crypto market and promote the continued development of this industry.
1. Paul Atkins – New SEC Chairman
Crypto background: Paul Atkins is a senior financial regulatory expert who served as a SEC commissioner during the George Bush administration. He then founded Patomak Global Partners, which provides financial consulting services and serves as a consultant for crypto projects. Atkins has extensive experience in fintech and cryptocurrency and supports policy simplification aimed at reducing excessive regulatory burdens on the financial industry.
Impact:
Atkins expects to push the SEC to adopt a more relaxed regulatory policy on cryptocurrency projects, reduce the compliance burden of new projects going public, and promote the development of more innovative crypto projects.
It is expected that the SEC will be prompted to issue new guidelines or adjust existing policies to clarify the regulatory framework for ICO (initial coin offering) or STO (security token offering) and promote the legalization of the crypto market.
By reducing regulatory barriers for smaller projects and startups, Atkins could spur market activity and attract more traditional investors to the crypto market.
2. Donald Trump – President of the United States
Crypto Background: As the President of the United States in 2025, Trump has a direct influence on the attitude and policies of the crypto market. Trump has publicly stated many times that he supports the development of cryptocurrencies. For example, he gave a speech at the Bitcoin Conference, emphasizing the future of cryptocurrencies and setting the goal of making the United States the "capital of cryptocurrencies."
Impact:
Policy Support: Trump may support the development of the crypto market through executive orders and legislation, including the creation of a strategic reserve of Bitcoin.
Regulatory environment: May promote a more relaxed cryptocurrency regulatory environment, reduce corporate compliance costs, and attract more crypto technology companies and talent to the United States.
Stablecoin Policy: The Trump administration may focus on stablecoin bills aimed at promoting their use in the U.S. economy, especially in international trade and payments.
Tax policy: It is possible to promote tax policies that are favorable to the holding and trading of crypto assets, encouraging more individuals and institutions to invest.
3. Elon Musk
Crypto background: As the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, Musk has unique insights into disruptive innovations in technology, and has had a direct impact on the Bitcoin and Dogecoin markets through social media, especially the X platform. Musk holds a large amount of Bitcoin (Tesla) and Dogecoin, and supports the use of cryptocurrencies in the payment field.
Crypto Influence:
His comments may continue to significantly affect the market prices of cryptocurrencies, especially Dogecoin and Bitcoin, potentially leading to short-term market volatility in 2025.
If Musk once again pushes Tesla or other companies to accept cryptocurrency payments, it will greatly promote the popularity of cryptocurrency in mainstream business.
4. Jack Dorsey
Crypto background: Jack Dorsey, founder of Twitter and Square (now Block Inc.), is a staunch supporter of Bitcoin. He has promoted the use of cryptocurrency in daily transactions by supporting Bitcoin payments through Square. Dorsey owns a certain amount of Bitcoin and promotes the use of cryptocurrency through his platform.
Crypto Influence:
Continuing to promote the popularity of Bitcoin payments through Square may lead to the launch of new payment products or services to further simplify the use of cryptocurrencies in daily transactions.
His support could lead to more businesses accepting bitcoin payments, enhancing its usefulness as a currency.
5. Vitalik Buterin
Crypto Background: As the co-founder of Ethereum, Buterin is a pioneer in blockchain technology, and Ethereum has become the core of the smart contract and DeFi ecosystem. He holds a large amount of Ethereum and Ethereum-based tokens and is a thought leader in the crypto industry.
Crypto Influence:
The further advancement of Ethereum 2.0 may significantly improve the scalability and efficiency of Ethereum, directly affecting the performance and user experience of applications such as DeFi and NFT.
His views may promote the application of blockchain technology in social governance, public welfare and other fields, and promote the socialization of blockchain technology on a global scale.
Buterin’s advocacy may prompt more developers and projects to turn to the Ethereum platform, further consolidating Ethereum’s position in the blockchain ecosystem.
6. Marc Andreessen
Crypto Background: Venture capitalist and co-founder of Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), Andreessen is known in Silicon Valley for promoting technological innovation. He has invested in many cryptocurrency projects through a16z, promoting the advancement of blockchain technology and Web3.
Crypto Influence:
Through a16z's investment, he may promote the launch and development of more innovative blockchain projects, especially in the fields of Web3, DeFi and NFT.
Andresen’s support may accelerate the construction of blockchain infrastructure, such as Layer-2 solutions or cross-chain technology, and improve the efficiency of the entire crypto ecosystem.
His influence may be reflected in policy advocacy, promoting government awareness and support for encryption technology and promoting the standardization of the industry.
7. Changpeng Zhao (CZ)
Crypto Background: As the founder and CEO of Binance, CZ has a huge influence in the cryptocurrency exchange space. Binance has become one of the world's largest cryptocurrency trading platforms, and he holds BNB coins and promotes the development of its ecosystem.
Crypto Influence:
CZ is likely to continue to drive Binance’s global expansion, adding new trading pairs and services to further solidify its leadership in the crypto market.
We will promote more regulatory compliance projects through Binance, especially in emerging markets, to help legalize cryptocurrency transactions in these markets.
Through platforms such as Binance Launchpad, CZ may have a direct impact on the financing and marketing of new projects, influencing the direction of innovation in the crypto industry.
8. Fred Ehrsam
Crypto Background: A co-founder of Coinbase, Ersham played a key role in the development of the cryptocurrency trading platform. After leaving Coinbase, he founded Paradigm, a venture capital firm focused on crypto and blockchain.
Crypto Influence:
Through Paradigm, Ersham may continue to invest in groundbreaking blockchain infrastructure projects and drive technological advancement in the crypto industry.
Its investment strategy may influence the investment direction of the crypto market, focusing on technologies that improve transaction speed, security and privacy.
Ersham’s views could push the industry in a more sustainable and efficient direction, particularly by supporting layer-2 solutions and blockchain interoperability projects.
9. Balaji Srinivasan
Crypto Background: Former Coinbase CTO, Srinivasan is an early advocate and investor in cryptocurrency, as well as a technology expert and thought leader who has promoted the use of decentralized technologies and cryptocurrency through blogs, books, and public speeches.
Crypto Influence:
Srinivasan is likely to continue to influence a new generation of cryptocurrency developers and investors through education and advocacy, driving the adoption of DeFi and decentralized applications.
It may advocate for more radical decentralized governance models, affecting the way crypto projects are structured and managed.
Incentivize more technological innovation, especially in the areas of privacy protection, decentralized governance, and financial inclusion.
10. Brian Armstrong
Crypto background: Brian Armstrong, founder and CEO of Coinbase, has made cryptocurrency more popular in the U.S. market through Coinbase. He is a promoter of the legalization and widespread use of cryptocurrency.
Crypto Influence:
Armstrong will continue to push for the diversification of Coinbase's business, such as entering more national markets or launching new financial services products to enhance its position in the crypto market.
Promote more traditional financial institutions to integrate with cryptocurrencies and promote the status of crypto assets in mainstream investment portfolios.
Through Coinbase’s policy influence, we will promote clearer definitions and protections for cryptocurrencies within the U.S. legal framework, and enhance market stability and confidence.
11. New Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)
Crypto background: Although the specific candidate has not yet been announced, the Trump administration tends to select people who support market freedom and reduce regulation. The new chairman may have a background in financial markets or economic policy, focus on the regulation of commodities and financial derivatives, and have a perspective on the potential value of cryptocurrency derivatives.
Crypto Influence:
It may push the CFTC to relax regulation of the cryptocurrency derivatives market, promote market deepening of products such as Bitcoin futures, and improve market liquidity.
The new policies may include providing a clearer regulatory framework for crypto asset derivatives, reducing uncertainty for market participants and attracting more institutional investors.
It may promote the application of cryptocurrencies in a wider range of financial products, such as options, swaps, etc., bringing new investment tools and ways to manage risks to the crypto market.
