Top 30 blockchain and crypto billionaires & millionaires in 2024: part II

If you liked the first part of our ranking of people who got rich from crypto, then get ready for part two! In this article, you will find the estimated net worth of the most prominent names in crypto, as well as their age, and a short bullet point summary of professional achievements and business successes.  

Some of the names on the list come from humble backgrounds, while others were already well-off before jumping into crypto. Most have tremendous respect within the crypto community, but a few fell from grace not so long ago. What really unites all these people is that their vast fortunes mainly come from crypto. While some paths to riches spark nothing but admiration for the founders’ boldness and dedication, others serve as a cautionary tale for the folks with a greed-is-good mentality.   

Pavel Durov: net worth, age & bio

Known for: founder of the social networking site VK and encrypted messaging app Telegram

Age: 38

Net worth: $11.5 billion (Forbes)

• Pavel Durov, co-founder of VK (Russia's largest social network) and Telegram Messenger, announced the development of the Telegram Open Network (TON) and its cryptocurrency, Gram, in 2018, with the goal to create a blockchain platform for decentralized applications that could rival Ethereum.
• TON raised $1.7 billion in a private initial coin offering (ICO) in 2018. However, the project faced legal issues with the SEC, which claimed that the ICO constituted an unregistered securities sale.
• After a prolonged legal battle, Durov announced in 2020 that the TON project would be discontinued due to the regulatory environment, and plans to refund investors. 
• Telegram Open Network has since rebranded to The Open Network and is governed by the community of developers independently of the messenger. 

Jack Dorsey: net worth, age & bio

Known for: former CEO of Twitter and co-founder of Block

Age: 46

Net worth: $4.5 billion (Forbes)

• Jack Dorsey, co-founder and former CEO of Twitter, is a well-known advocate for Bitcoin and has integrated cryptocurrency functionalities into his other company, Square, now known as Block. Square’s Cash App allows users to buy and sell Bitcoin.
• Under Dorsey's leadership, Square launched Spiral (formerly Square Crypto) in 2019, an independent team solely focusing on contributing to Bitcoin open-source work.
• In March 2023, Block announced its plans to launch a Bitcoin mining development kit with the goal of making the blockchain more environmentally sustainable. 

Andre Cronje: net worth, age & bio

Known for: founder of Yearn Finance and independent DeFi developer

Age: 40

Net worth: around $1 billion

• Andre Cronje is a widely recognized figure in the crypto industry, having earned recognition as the founder of Yearn Finance, a leading DeFi platform offering services like yield farming and lending.
• Cronje's influence extends beyond Yearn Finance as he has been instrumental in the development of other DeFi projects such as Curve Finance, and has crafted several innovative financial tools, shaping the DeFi sector.
• Despite being hailed as the “godfather of DeFi,” in April 2022 Cronje announced that he is stepping down from any involvement in the crypto space.

Eli Ben-Sasson: net worth, age & bio

Known for: co-founder and president of StarkWare

Age: 44

Net worth: $900 million (Forbes)

• Eli Ben Sasson is a co-founder of StarkWare, a company that focuses on scalability and privacy in blockchains using STARK technology, a type of zero-knowledge proof. StarkWare aims to improve the scalability of blockchain networks without sacrificing security.
• Prior to StarkWare, Sasson was heavily involved in academic research focusing on computational complexity, probabilistically checkable proofs (PCPs), and zero-knowledge proofs, foundational elements of many cryptographic solutions in blockchain technology.
• Sasson was also a founding scientist of Zcash, a privacy-focused cryptocurrency that uses a form of zero-knowledge proofs known as zk-SNARKs, demonstrating his strong influence in the development and application of zero-knowledge proofs in the crypto field.

Sergey Nazarov: net worth, age & bio

Known for: co-founder of Chainlink

Age: 32

Net worth: around $600 million

• Sergey Nazarov is best known as the co-founder of Chainlink, a decentralized oracle network that allows smart contracts on Ethereum to securely connect to external data sources, APIs, and payment systems.
• Nazarov's pioneering work in connecting blockchain-based smart contracts to real-world data has been instrumental in advancing the functionality and use cases of blockchain technology.
• Chainlink's success in bridging the gap between on-chain and off-chain data has resulted in substantial appreciation of its LINK token, making it one of the top cryptocurrencies by market capitalization.

Gavin Wood: net worth, age & bio

Known for: co-founder of Ethereum and creator of Solidity programming language

Age: 43

Net worth: around $500 million

• Gavin Wood is the co-founder of Ethereum, a first-of-its-kind blockchain-based platform that facilitates the development of decentralized applications (dApps), and a former Chief Technology Officer of the Ethereum Foundation. 
• After parting his ways with Ethereum, Wood went on to establish Parity Technologies, a core blockchain infrastructure firm, and Web3 Foundation, dedicated to fostering a fully functional and user-friendly decentralized web.
• Wood is the creator of Polkadot, a multichain platform managed by the Web3 Foundation that enables different blockchains to interoperate in a shared security model.

Andrew Tate: net worth, age & bio

Known for: former kickboxer and TikTok influencer

Age: 36

Net worth: between $10 million and $300 million

• Andrew Tate is a controversial public figure who has made a name for himself as a professional kickboxer, TikTok influencer, and early investor in Bitcoin.
• He is an advocate for cryptocurrencies and has shared his positive outlook on Bitcoin and other digital currencies through various platforms, including social media and personal courses.
• Andrew Tate has been involved in selling online courses that supposedly guide individuals on how to make money in various fields, including cryptocurrencies. These courses are often promoted via his social media channels.

Stani Kulechov: net worth, age & bio

Known for: founder of Aave

Age: 32

Net worth: around $250 million

• Stani Kulechov is the founder and CEO of Aave, a decentralized finance (DeFi) platform that allows users to lend and borrow cryptocurrencies in a peer-to-peer manner. Aave has become one of the leading DeFi platforms under Kulechov's leadership.
• Kulechov also spearheaded the transition of Aave from a lending platform to a multi-functional DeFi protocol with features such as flash loans, which have been widely adopted in the DeFi ecosystem.
• Apart from Aave, Kulechov is recognized as a key influencer in the DeFi space, advocating for transparency, decentralization, and innovation in the blockchain and finance industries.

Hayden Adams: net worth, age & bio

Known for: creator of Uniswap

Age: 31

Net worth: around $150 million

• Hayden Adams is the founder of Uniswap, the biggest decentralized exchange that allows users to trade Ethereum-based tokens directly from their wallets.
• Adams was inspired by Ethereum creator Vitalik Buterin to build Uniswap, with the goal to create an open, trustless trading platform that would be controlled by code instead of people.
• Uniswap's innovative automated market maker model has been widely adopted in the DeFi space, and now serves as the golden standard for other protocols. 

Do Kwon: net worth, age & bio

Known for: founder of TerraForm Labs and creator of crashed stablecoin UST

Age: 31

Net worth: between $135 and $150 million

• Do Kwon is the co-founder of Terraform Labs and creator of the crashed algorithmic stablecoin TerraUSD (UST), who is currently facing a litany of criminal charges from authorities in Montenegro, South Korea, and the United States. 
• Since the crash of his blockchain-based payment ecosystem Terra wiped off over $50 billion from the market, Kwon has been on the run and has been put on Interpol’s red notice list.
• In June 2023, Kwon has been sentenced to four months in jail in Montenegro after being found guilty of document forgery. Both the US and South Korea are demanding the extradition of the fugitive crypto founder.  

Gary Gensler's net worth, age & bio

Known for: current Chairman of the US Securities and Exchange Commission

Age: 65

Net worth: between $41 million and $119 million (Bloomberg)

• Gary Gensler is currently serving as the chairman of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) since April 2021, succeeding Allison Lee. Gensler is known for his anti-crypto market stance: many US-based crypto businesses were hit with lawsuits and numerous cryptocurrencies were designated unregistered securities under his leadership 
• Prior to his current position, Gary Gensler was a senior advisor to the MIT Media Lab's Digital Currency Initiative, focusing on blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies. 
• Gensler previously served as the Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) from May 2009 to January 2014, where he oversaw the implementation of new derivatives regulations after the 2008 financial crisis.  He spent the 1980s working as a top mergers and acquisitions banker at Goldman Sachs Group Inc.
• Gary Gensler's main income comes from his position as the 33rd Chair of the SEC. He also earned a considerable part of his wealth from investments, which is quite natural given his past as a high-profile banker and lecturer at a prestigious business school.

Jordan Fish (Cobie): net worth, age & bio

Known for: host of the “Up Only” podcast and Crypto Twitter personality

Age: 33

Net worth: around $30 million

• Cobie (previously known as Crypto Cobain) is probably the most followed crypto influencer on Twitter and a host of a popular podcast UpOnly, which discusses everything related to the digital assets industry.
• Although Cobie claims to make less than $60k monthly from his podcast, his generous donations and extravagant bets led to a lot of speculation about his net worth, which is believed to be around $30 million.
• Cobie is also known as an early contributor to the development of Lido Finance, a liquid staking solution for Ethereum, which is also currently the biggest DeFi protocol in terms of total value locked (TVL).

Bitboy Crypto: net worth, age & bio

Known for: YouTube personality and crypto influencer

Age: 41

Net worth: around $30 million

• Ben Armstrong, also known by his online YouTube alias "BitBoy Crypto", is a YouTube content creator who mainly vlogs about cryptocurrency and blockchain technology.
• Despite his claims to be acting in the best interests of the crypto community, several Crypto Twitter personalities have repeatedly called him out for posting sensationalist content, failing to disclose paid promotional content, and featuring projects that turn out to be a scam.
• In August 2022, Bitboy filed a defamation lawsuit against fellow YouTuber Atozy (real name Erling Mengshoel) for a video that covered Armstrong’s promotion of a dubious project called PAMP. The lawsuit was subsequently dropped after numerous crypto influencers, including Cobie, crowdfunded Atozy’s legal defense costs.

Paolo Ardoino: net worth, age & bio

Known for: CTO of Bitfinex and Tether

Age: 38

Net worth: $28.5 million

• Paolo Ardoino serves as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Bitfinex and Tether, two trailblazers in the crypto industry. Bitfinex is a cryptocurrency spot and derivatives trading platform, while Tether is the issuer of USDT stablecoin, one of the most widely traded cryptocurrencies.
• Ardoino played a significant role in shaping Bitfinex's strategy and technological infrastructure, contributing to its growth and reputation in the crypto industry.
• His efforts at Tether were pivotal in the widespread adoption of USDT, which maintains a 1:1 peg with the U.S. dollar and has become a backbone of decentralized finance. 

Sam Bankman-Fried: net worth, age & bio

Known for: embezzlement of billions in customer money 

Age: 31

Net worth: $4 million post-FTX collapse (Forbes)

• Sam Bankman-Fried is a former CEO of the now-defunct cryptocurrency exchange FTX who is currently awaiting trial for a litany of criminal charges for his role in the collapse of FTX in November 2022.
• He allegedly stole as much as $8 billion from customer funds to cover up losses at Alameda Research, FTX’s trading arm run by his ex-girlfriend Caroline Ellison
• Bankman-Fried also allegedly used customer’s money to buy luxurious estate and make illegal political contributions through straw donors.

Peter McCormack: net worth, age & bio

Known for: host of the “What Bitcoin Did” podcast

Age: 43

Net worth: around $1 million

• Peter McCormack is a prominent figure in the cryptocurrency world, known primarily as the host of the "What Bitcoin Did" podcast. The podcast, which explores all things related to Bitcoin, has attracted high-profile guests from the crypto world and beyond.
• McCormack's journey into Bitcoin started with his initial investment and trading during the 2016-2017 Bitcoin bull run. He also suffered substantial losses in the subsequent market downturn, a journey he has shared openly to educate others.
• Beyond his podcast, McCormack is known for his outspoken support of Bitcoin on social media and various platforms, frequently contributing to discussions about Bitcoin's value proposition and the wider crypto ecosystem.