Global User Survey: The Crypto Leaders the Binance Community Admires Most
Main Takeaways
Binance has recently conducted a global user survey, gathering insights from over 12,000 respondents who shared their opinions about crypto’s most influential personalities.
The community recognized Satoshi Nakamoto, the anonymous creator of Bitcoin, as the most influential crypto personality, while Changpeng Zhao (CZ), co-founder of Binance, was celebrated as the most influential crypto changemaker for his contributions to blockchain and Web3 growth.
Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, was named the best crypto builder for his groundbreaking work on the network. Elizabeth Stark, CEO of Lightning Labs, earned the title of the most influential woman in crypto.
As the crypto industry continues to grow and evolve, so does the pantheon of the industry’s most revered and influential figures. Who are the most influential figures in crypto today? To find out, we conducted a global survey among Binance users.
More than 12,000 Binance users from six continents, including Asia, Australia, Europe, Africa, and Latin America, took part. They shared their thoughts on the leaders making the biggest impact in the blockchain industry.
To keep the results fair and unbiased, we used six open-ended questions, allowing participants to nominate their top choices freely.
To make this community survey even more exciting, those who voted for at least three category winners also got a chance to share a $15,000 prize pool. Originally valued at $5,000, the prize pool was tripled as more and more responses kept flowing in.
Now, let’s dive in and reveal the winners!
Most Influential Crypto Personality
This category was designed to celebrate the individuals who have truly shaped the crypto world with their innovative thinking, leadership, and lasting impact.
Over 30% of the respondents in the survey pointed to none other than Satoshi Nakamoto, the mysterious creator of Bitcoin, as the most influential figure in crypto. Nakamoto’s creation of Bitcoin paved the way for decentralized financial systems, setting the stage for the entire blockchain and crypto revolution.
What makes Satoshi even more fascinating is the mystery surrounding his identity. While many attempted to create digital currencies in the past, they often faced pushback from authorities. But Satoshi chose to remain behind a pseudonym, adding an extra layer of intrigue to their story.
Most Influential Crypto Changemaker
This category shines a spotlight on the visionaries who have pushed boundaries and brought about transformative changes in the crypto space.
A significant 38% of the community recognized Changpeng Zhao (CZ), the co-founder and former CEO of Binance, as the most influential crypto changemaker. CZ’s impact on the growth of blockchain and Web3 technologies is immense, with many highlighting his forward-thinking approach to innovation, leadership, and building community trust.
Other notable figures in this category include Vitalik Buterin, who earned 12% of the votes for his work with Ethereum, as well as high-profile individuals like Tesla and X (Twitter) CEO Elon Musk and U.S. President Donald Trump.
The Best Crypto Builder
This category is all about recognizing the developers, entrepreneurs, and innovators who are building the essential infrastructure and protocols that are reshaping the blockchain world.
The results were clear, with 42% of respondents naming Vitalik Buterin, the co-founder of Ethereum, as the best crypto builder. Vitalik has played a pivotal role in shaping his creation as a “distributed world computer” and pioneering a new class of blockchain use cases relying on smart contract functionality.
Over the years, the Ethereum ecosystem has expanded rapidly, incorporating innovative features and helping to increase financial freedom for millions of people around the globe.
The Best Crypto Podcast
Crypto podcasts have become a vital resource for staying updated on all things Web3, providing expert insights, industry trends, and in-depth analysis of blockchain applications.
Taking the top spot with 38% of the votes is The Pomp Podcast, hosted by Anthony Pompliano. Pomp’s podcast, along with his eponymous newsletter, covers a wide range of topics, from Bitcoin to business, finance, and technology, making it a must-listen for anyone in the crypto world.
Coming in second is Unchained, which garnered 10% of the votes. Known for its comprehensive discussions on crypto’s broader impact and cutting-edge developments, Unchained continues to be a favorite among the crypto community.
The third place goes to Bankless, a podcast that provides educational content to help listeners navigate the complex world of crypto. With a focus on decentralized finance (DeFi), Bankless delivers insights for those looking to dive deeper into the crypto space. While the podcast remains popular among the community, it has also faced recent scrutiny following discussions around its involvement in the Aiccelerate DAO token launch. Despite this, it continues to be a widely recognized source of information in the crypto ecosystem.
Most Influential Women in Crypto
Given the tremendous importance of women employees and leaders’ contributions to Binance’s success , we wanted to recognize the incredible efforts of female leaders and entrepreneurs in the crypto space.
With 40% of the votes, the community named Elizabeth Stark, CEO and Co-Founder of Lightning Labs, the most influential woman in Web3. In 2018, Lightning Labs launched the Lightning Network, with the goal of making cryptocurrency transactions faster and cheaper. Stark has been at the forefront of Bitcoin layer-2 solutions, advocating for scalability while maintaining Bitcoin's core principles of decentralization and security. Under her leadership, Lightning Labs introduced innovative products like Taro, which brings stablecoins and assets to Bitcoin via the Lightning Network.
Other notable women who earned recognition include Meltem Demirors, Chief Strategy Officer at CoinShares, a well-known investor and strategist, and advocate for digital assets and decentralized finance (DeFi); Hester Peirce, the pro-crypto SEC Commissioner, often referred to as “Crypto Mom”; and of course, our very own Yi He, Co-Founder and Chief Customer Service Officer at Binance, whose empathetic leadership and focus on users’ well-being has made her a beloved figure in the crypto community.
As the crypto space continues to forge ahead, recognizing and celebrating these trailblazers helps inspire and drive further advancements in the industry.
Further Reading
Disclaimer: Please note that these rankings are based on community votes and do not reflect Binance’s endorsement of any person or podcast or its views.
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