Welcome to CoinDesk’s Most Influential 2025.
This year, Bitcoin broke an all-time high hitting $126,000 a few short months ago, Ethereum saw not one but two major network upgrades go into effect, Solana broke into Wall Street and through it all retail and institutional traders gained ever more access to crypto markets through packaged products like exchange traded funds.
Following on from late 2024’s crypto industry optimism, 2025 saw the resurgence of the US as a dominant market in crypto for both retail and institutional players, the cementing of cryptocurrencies as an asset class for the mainstream investor, and even the growth of artificial intelligence in the crypto space.
That’s not to say the news has been consistently positive. Markets have fallen over the past few months and the broader US and global economy is showing signs of stress. The crypto industry received vivid and unfortunate reminders in the form of wrench attacks and kidnappings that personal security cannot be taken for granted, and malicious actors are on pace to break records for how much crypto they have been able to steal through hacks and other compromises.
All this to say: It’s been a busy year.
For 2025, CoinDesk categorized the 50 individuals and groups we recognize for their contributions to the crypto industry this year — good and bad — into 10 different themes, with one of our Top 10 most influential individuals tied to four groups or individuals in their thematic orbit. Monday’s theme – recognizing US President Donald Trump and the major impact he has had on crypto industry discourse this year – kicks off our presentation of the list, and you can check back each day for the next two weeks to read the newest entries on our list.
Outside of policymaking, our themes look at the role of money in politics, the growing attention to how capital flows in general, the work behind the scenes to keep decentralized networks humming, and the darker side of industry.
Finally, as a reminder, CoinDesk’s most influential is not a ranking. We are not honoring individuals or groups. Rather, it is our way of recognizing the role these people and groups have played in the industry. As we have done in recent years, our picks this year range from builders, policy makers and thought leaders who are moving the industry forward to bad actors who are arguably setting it back. It’s still influence, even if we’d rather forget their roles.
How we chose CoinDesk’s Most Influential 2025
As with each year’s list, CoinDesk focuses on individuals who demonstrated — not to put too fine a point on it — influence in the crypto industry. Whether it’s bringing esoteric products mainstream, drawing attention to how people reveal their possessions or simply keeping industry technology moving, the list recognizes people who had a clear impact.
Each year, the final selection draws from a long list that is crowdsourced, with CoinDesk reporters and the general public all weighing in. The months-long process led to this list being whittled down to the 50 names you’ll read about over the next two weeks.
As in previous years, we have made a conscious effort not to include people who may be on the list each year. US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Hester Pierce, for example, continues to be a major industry influencer, guiding the agency’s approach to crypto regulation from a position of power that has only increased under the leadership of crypto-friendly chairman Paul Atkins. And there is no doubt that Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong has massive influence on the crypto industry, especially in the US
However, some figures have such a significant impact that they warrant a repeat on our most influential list. This year we’ll recognize Trump again because of the changes he’s made since he was elected president in 2024, and some other names may seem familiar as well. And as with every year, we welcome your feedback on our choices.
