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Forbes’ 2025 World’s Billionaires List includes 3,028 individuals, 16 of whom emerged from the cryptocurrency sector. This marks a continued rise in crypto wealth, fueled by market expansion and mainstream adoption. 

Changpeng “CZ” Zhao is topping the crypto cohort, with a net worth close to $63 billion. Collectively, these 16 crypto figures have amassed fortunes surpassing $164 billion, according to Forbes’ April 1 publication.

Binance founder Changpeng Zhao remains the richest figure in crypto, ranking 24th globally with a net worth of $62.9 billion. Forbes reported his wealth nearly doubled within a year, rising from $33 billion, despite legal fines and a four-month prison sentence. 

Zhao stepped down as Binance CEO and now leads YZi Labs, previously Binance Labs. In 2023, Zhao tweeted that he “quit his job, sold his house, and aped into Bitcoin.”

The second richest crypto billionaire is Giancarlo Devasini, Chief Financial Officer of Tether, who ranks 90th on the list with an estimated net worth of $22.4 billion. Forbes cited him as the likely largest shareholder of Tether. 

The stablecoin issuer posted a $13 billion profit last year and operates with an estimated 100 employees. Tether contributed four names to the billionaire list: Devasini, former CEO Jean-Louis van der Velde, current CEO Paolo Ardoino, and General Counsel Stuart Hoegner.

Coinbase co-founders Brian Armstrong and Fred Ehrsam also secured places on the list. Armstrong ranks 311th with a net worth of $9.2 billion, while Ehrsam holds 1,362nd place with $2.7 billion. Gemini’s co-founders, identical twins Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, tied at 1,141st with net worths of $3.2 billion each. 

Tron’s Justin Sun, who owns Polo Digital Assets, made the list for the first time, ranking 353rd with a reported net worth of $8.5 billion. Arkham Intelligence had previously estimated his worth at $1.4 billion in early 2024.

Michael Saylor, Chairman of Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy), is now ranked 430th with a net worth of $7.4 billion, an increase of $3 billion from last year. Strategy is currently the largest corporate holder of Bitcoin, with 528,185 BTC valued at approximately $45 billion. 

In 2020, Saylor disclosed he owned 17,732 BTC. As reported by ETHNews, Strategy recently purchased an additional 22,048 BTC between March 24 and March 30, 2025, at an average price of $86,969 per coin. According to the Form 8-K filing, this cost the company approximately $1.92 billion.

Other listed entrepreneurs include Chris Larsen of Ripple and Jed McCaleb of Stellar. Both are recognized for founding major blockchain platforms. Venture capitalist Tim Draper also made the list, as did Mike Novogratz, CEO of Galaxy Digital Holdings, and Matthew Roszak, chairman of Bloq. Novogratz and Roszak have investments spread across multiple crypto ventures, including non-blockchain-related companies.

According to Forbes, the rise of crypto billionaires coincides with pivotal industry developments in 2024. These included the approval of the first U.S. spot Bitcoin ETF, Bitcoin surpassing $100,000, and high-profile political endorsements of the asset. 

Forbes credited these factors with boosting market confidence and increasing the personal wealth of early crypto investors and entrepreneurs.

CoinShares recently reported $226 million in net inflows into global crypto investment products, including $195 million into Bitcoin-specific funds. As detailed in our last news piece, the U.S.-based spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $196.4 million in net inflows last week alone. 

Short Bitcoin positions saw outflows of $2.5 million for the fourth consecutive week, suggesting growing investor confidence.

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