Several Crypto Founders Featured on Forbes 2025 World Billionaires List

Forbes has unveiled its 2025 World Billionaires List, marking a milestone with 3,028 billionaires worldwide, a jump of 247 from last year. Since its inception in 1987, when Forbes first identified 140 billionaires, the tally has surged past 1,000 in the early 2000s and 2,000 by 2017.

Today, these wealthy individuals collectively hold a staggering $16.1 trillion, up nearly $2 trillion from 2024. The United States leads with a record 902 billionaires, followed by China (including Hong Kong) with 516, and India with 205. Valuations reflect stock prices and exchange rates as of March 7, 2025, with real-time updates available on Forbes’ billionaires ranking.

Among this year’s list are several crypto billionaires, a group whose fortunes have soared alongside the mainstream adoption of cryptocurrencies and blockchain. Leading the charge is Changpeng Zhao (CZ), the founder of Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume. CZ tops the crypto cohort with a net worth of $62.9 billion, securing his spot at number 24 on the global list. Despite stepping down as Binance CEO in 2023 amid legal challenges, including a four-month prison stint in 2024 for anti-money laundering violations, his estimated 90% stake in the exchange has propelled his wealth to new heights.

Hot on his heels is Giancarlo Devasini, the Chief Financial Officer of Tether, the issuer of the world’s largest stablecoin, USDT. Devasini’s fortune stands at $22.4 billion, ranking him 90th globally. His wealth stems from a reported 47% stake in Tether, a company that raked in $6.2 billion in profits last year, buoyed by high interest rates on customer collateral. Tether’s dominance in the stablecoin market has cemented Devasini’s status as a crypto heavyweight.

Brian Armstrong, the co-founder and CEO of Coinbase, North America’s premiere crypto exchange, claims the third spot among crypto billionaires with a net worth of $9.2 billion (rank 311). Armstrong, who took Coinbase public in 2021, holds an 18% stake in the company, which has seen its stock surge over threefold since last year. His advocacy for crypto-friendly policies, including millions donated to pro-crypto political candidates via the Fairshake PAC, shows his influence beyond the crypto exchange floor.

Rounding out the top crypto names is Justin Sun, the Tron blockchain founder, whose $8.5 billion fortune lands him at rank 353. Sun has capitalized on Tron’s growth and his broader crypto ventures, joining the elite ranks of digital asset moguls at just 34 years old.

The 2025 list features a total of 14 crypto billionaires, reflecting the sector’s growing clout. Below is a table of these trailblazers, showcasing their ranks, net worth, and contributions to the crypto ecosystem: