Cryptocurrencies have created a new wave of crypto billionaires and millionaires. Mostly, these are the crypto founders associated with some renowned names in the current crypto scenario. A bunch of few individuals have become an integral part of the crypto space since its launch. The latest crypto bull run, with the Bitcoin price above $70,000 as of March 27, 2024, has sparked interest in cryptocurrency investments, making people speculate who the richest crypto billionaires and crypto founders are!
So, who will be the richest crypto founders in the world in 2024?
In this report by Coinpedia, we have included the top faces of the cryptocurrency world who have risen to wealth meteorically. Let us dive in!
- Changpeng Zhao
With a net worth of $33 billion, Changpeng Zhao or CZ is a Chinese-Canadian founder and CEO of Binance. It is the world’s largest crypto exchange! CZ rose to wealth in the early 2000s when he started working in the tech space. He held prominent roles at companies like Bloomberg Tradebook and Blockchain.com. His wealth stems from his success with Binance and its affiliated tokens. He founded the Prodigy in 2017, making it one of the most popular and influential crypto exchanges globally! According to Forbes, CZ’s wealth is $33 billion as of 27 March 2024!
- Brian Armstrong
The chief executive and co-founder of Coinbase, the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the United States, Brian Armstrong, has a total net worth of $11.6 billion as of March 2024. A former Airbnb software engineer, he co-founded Coinbase in 2012 with Fred Ehrsam. Coinbase reached a market capitalization of $100 billion in 2021 after going public in a direct offering on Nasdaq. Currently, Armstrong owns about 19% of Coinbase’s shares.
- Chris Larsen
Chris Larsen, with a current net worth of $3.2 billion, co-founded Ripple Labs in 2012 to allow international payments for banks using blockchain technology. Larsen stepped down as Ripple CEO in December 2016 but remains executive chairman. Ripple’s XRP cryptocurrency quickly gained popularity and became one of the largest crypto by market cap. Research also states that XRP is among the greatest cryptos that can make investors rich.
- Barry Silbert
Barry Silbert is the founder and CEO of Digital Currency Group (DCG), with a current net worth of $3.2 billion. DCG has also invested in more than 200 crypto startups. Silbert began his career in finance working at the investment banking firm Houlihan Lokey, focusing on distressed debt. In 2015, Silbert rebranded SecondMarket as Digital Currency Group (DCG), expanding the company’s focus to include not just Bitcoin but also other cryptocurrencies and blockchain-based technologies. DCG has since become a big player in the cryptocurrency trading industry through its diverse portfolio of investments and its subsidiary companies, including Grayscale Investments, Genesis, CoinDesk, and more.
- Devin Finzer
Devin Finzer, the co-founder of OpenSea, one of the largest marketplaces for non-fungible tokens, has a current net worth of $2.2 billion. OpenSea gained popularity with the rise of NFTs, which are unique digital assets verified by blockchain technology. This marketplace gained significant attention in 2021 as NFTs became mainstream, attracting high-profile buyers and sellers. OpenSea has also reported billions of dollars in transaction volume on its platform, taking a small commission on each and every sale. As a result, Finzer has amassed significant wealth through his role as co-founder of OpenSea.