Meet the 2024 Crypto Stars: Top Ten Influencers Shaping the Future!
2024 was nothing short of a historic year for the crypto community, a thrilling journey filled with monumental events that kept everyone on the edge of their seats.
This year saw a series of key milestones that reshaped the crypto landscape—like the much-anticipated Bitcoin Halving, which further consolidated the mining industry, and Bitcoin shattering the elusive $100,000 barrier during a bullish surge. The total market cap of the crypto industry skyrocketed from $1.2 trillion in 2023 to an astonishing $3.78 trillion. To top it all off, a 78-year-old political maverick rode the crypto wave to victory in the U.S. Presidential election.
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. The year was laden with drama, including the imprisonment of crypto titans Sam Bankman-Fried of FTX and Changpeng Zhao (CZ) of Binance, as well as intense scrutiny directed at Nischal Shetty of WazirX for freezing ₹2500 crore in user funds. Various memecoin projects also faced backlash for promoting harmful behaviors and executing rugpull scams. Moreover, a fierce tug-of-war unfolded between the crypto community and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over regulatory matters.
In 2024, crypto was more than just a trend; it was a movement.
In this article, we’ll take you through the ten defining figures of 2024 who left an indelible mark on the crypto economy and the global crypto village, forever imprinting their stories in the sands of time.
10. Nischal Shetty
Some hail him as an entrepreneurial genius, others label him a scammer, while many believe he is merely a victim of a devastating hack. Nischal Shetty, co-founder of WazirX—once India’s leading cryptocurrency exchange—remained one of the most polarizing figures of 2024.
After the shocking WazirX hack involving ₹2000 crore surfaced in July, Shetty found himself under fire from furious customers and law enforcement. The management decisions following the hack, such as halting withdrawals and siphoning ₹100 crore from users’ funds for operating expenses, only intensified scrutiny. WazirX users were further irked by Shetty’s claims of ownership disputes with Binance and the enforced loss-sharing scheme post-hack. Most infuriating was the fact that an Indian exchange faced trials in a Singapore court, while Shetty resided in Dubai.
Shetty has promised a slew of changes for 2025, including quick fund dispersals, resuming trading on WazirX, and launching India’s largest decentralized exchange—yet some feel history might just repeat itself.
9. Hester Peirce
Meet Hester Peirce, a commissioner at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), affectionately dubbed “Crypto Mom” for her pro-crypto advocacy amidst a notoriously hostile regulatory climate led by chairperson Gary Gensler. Peirce has consistently championed a balanced approach to crypto regulation, focusing on consumer protection while driving innovation.
In 2024, Peirce rallied for sensible cryptocurrency regulations and criticized certain SEC enforcement actions as overreaching. Her most impactful push was advocating for a safe harbor rule for crypto projects, allowing developers to innovate without the threat of immediate shutdowns.
Since her SEC appointment in 2018, Peirce has consistently urged support for emerging technologies, ensuring that policymakers in Washington D.C. include the crypto community in shaping future regulations.
8. Sam Bankman Fried
Once the poster boy of the “Crypto Bros,” Sam Bankman Fried’s dreams crumbled in 2023 when FTX, the exchange he founded, imploded. Accusations of mismanagement and fraud turned him into a target for the SEC and law enforcement, resulting in billions lost and sowing widespread doubt about the crypto market’s stability.
His trial and subsequent conviction in 2024 sealed his fate, leading to a 25-year jail sentence for fraud and conspiracy, marking him as one of the most infamous figures to face the legal music in the crypto world. His downfall serves as a cautionary tale for the crypto community, echoing the myth of Icarus, who flew too close to the sun.
7. People of Bhutan
In November 2024, the small but powerful Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan made waves by disclosing its impressive ownership of approximately $1 billion in Bitcoin, catapulting it among the world’s top national Bitcoin holders. Renowned for its happiness index, Bhutan leveraged its abundant hydropower resources to mine Bitcoin, creating a significant BTC reserve.
Bhutan’s approach to Bitcoin mining centers around sustainability, effectively marrying cryptocurrency with renewable energy in a way that contributes to the nation’s economic diversification. While the exact amount of Bitcoin held remains undisclosed, Bhutan’s growing engagement with crypto demonstrates a commitment to embracing technology sustainably.
6. Michael Saylor
Michael Saylor, the visionary entrepreneur behind MicroStrategy, solidified his status as a dominant voice in the crypto domain with his unabashedly bullish perspective on Bitcoin. As BTC reached new heights during the ongoing bull run, MicroStrategy, under Saylor’s leadership, continued its acquisitions.
Saylor’s journey into crypto began in 2020 when MicroStrategy became the first publicly traded company to adopt Bitcoin as its primary treasury reserve asset. His vision has transformed MicroStrategy into a tech powerhouse that bridges traditional business with the crypto revolution.
In 2024, Saylor’s enthusiasm for Bitcoin reached new heights. In a recent interview, he boldly dubbed Bitcoin a “Cyber Manhattan,” asserting its potential as more than just a store of value; it’s a revolutionary monetary tool. His insights resonate with his longstanding belief in Bitcoin’s transformative role amid ongoing market volatility.
5. Changpeng Zhao (CZ)
For Changpeng Zhao, or CZ, the mastermind behind Binance, 2024 was a rollercoaster ride. The world witnessed the rise and fall of the crypto mogul as he spent four months in jail due to non-compliance with U.S. regulations, only to resurface with a striking new look.
Under immense scrutiny from the SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) for alleged financial misconduct, CZ found himself embroiled in controversy as U.S. regulators intensified their crackdown on crypto exchanges. Rumors circulated regarding potential criminal charges against him, adding to the cloud hanging over Binance.
Throughout the year, CZ remained in the headlines, particularly as Indian users of WazirX urged him for assistance with their frozen funds, only to be met with refusal.
4. Elon Musk
Tech mogul and billionaire maverick Elon Musk had a whirlwind year in 2024. The owner of X (formerly Twitter), SpaceX, Tesla, and now head of the Department of Government Efficiency (D.O.G.E.), Musk dove headfirst into the crypto conversation.
Casting his lot with Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, Musk became one of the loudest advocates for the former president, aligning Trump’s libertarian economic views with his vision for technological and space innovation. Throughout the year, Musk touted Dogecoin as a prime asset for the future of finance, even formally joining the D.O.G.E. team alongside Vivek Ramaswamy.
A staunch supporter of free speech, Musk faced criticism for his platform’s handling of hate speech and racism, yet he remained an undeniable force in the crypto landscape.
3. Nayib Bukele
Nayib ‘Chivo’ Bukele, the President of El Salvador, is arguably one of history’s first Bitcoin-enthusiast presidents. Known as the “coolest dictator” online, Bukele has instigated radical reforms to transform El Salvador, a nation plagued by violence and corruption.
His administration’s strict measures against gang violence, including the imprisonment of over 70,000 suspected gang members, along with a surge in Bitcoin investments, have positioned Bukele as a transformative figure. He made headlines by legalizing Bitcoin as a currency and proposing the use of volcanic energy for eco-friendly mining, illustrating that innovation doesn’t have to come at the cost of sustainability.
Bukele also met Elon Musk at Tesla’s Gigafactory in Austin, Texas, where the two exchanged ideas on Artificial Intelligence and cryptocurrency, solidifying his status as a significant leader in the youth movement across Latin America.
2. Donald Trump
Before the U.S. presidential elections in July 2024, Trump trailed behind Joe Biden, with his relationship with the crypto community still in its infancy. However, an assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania rally changed his trajectory, prompting strong support from Musk and the crypto community.
Trump seized the moment to strengthen ties with the crypto community, promising to make America the global capital for Bitcoin, pledging to mine every single Bitcoin within the country, and establishing a strategic reserve. He also vowed to fire SEC chair Gary Gensler, widely disliked in crypto circles, on his first day in office.
His victory against Kamala Harris in November ushered in a bullish season for Bitcoin, breaking the $100,000 barrier. Following his win, Trump announced the creation of D.O.G.E., under the leadership of Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, with extensive plans to advance the interests of crypto investors.
1. Satoshi Nakamoto
Satoshi Nakamoto, the enigmatic figure credited with creating Bitcoin, remains an icon within the crypto community, even 15 years after vanishing. The quest to uncover Nakamoto’s identity dominated headlines in 2024, with HBO documentaries and public spectacles attempting to reveal the true mastermind behind Bitcoin.
As Bitcoin soared to unprecedented heights in the bull run, Satoshi’s fortunes eclipsed $100 billion, yet the mystery surrounding their identity endures. The world continues to wonder: who is this elusive creator? While speculation runs rampant, the concern for Satoshi regarding potential legal troubles looms if their identity is exposed.
Also Read: Why We Will and Should Never Know Who Satoshi Nakamoto Is?
