In the crypto, "big shots" are never just a casual title—they are industry trendsetters whose every word and action can influence market fluctuations and even rewrite the trajectory of blockchain development. Some are shrouded in mystery, some achieved fame at a young age, some retired gracefully, and some are embroiled in controversy. Today, let's take a look at some of the key figures in the crypto who cannot be ignored. How many do you recognize?
Legendary Pioneer: The "Trailblazer" Who Layed the Foundation for the Industry
These industry leaders are either pioneers of blockchain or creators of core technologies; without them, there would be no crypto as we know it today.
Satoshi Nakamoto : The most mysterious "hidden master"in the crypto, the creator of Bitcoin. In 2008, he published an article in an encrypted mailing list, outlining the core framework of Bitcoin; in 2009, he established the open-source project, and Bitcoin was officially born, thus ushering in the era of cryptocurrency. To this day, no one knows who he is—it could be one person, or it could be a team. He is like a ghost, leaving behind the entire crypto world, yet never showing his face.
Vitalik Buterin: The Road to Legend for a Prodigy. Known as " Vitalik Vitalik" within the crypto community, he created Ethereum at a young age, propelling blockchain from the 1.0 era (Bitcoin's single payment function) to the 2.0 era (the implementation of smart contracts). It's fair to say that without Ethereum, there would be no DeFi, NFTs, or other related ecosystems. His talent remains a legend in the crypto.
Charlie Lee : Founder of Litecoin and CEO of Litecoin Mining Pool. As a close relative of Bitcoin, Litecoin was once called "Bitcoin's testing ground." With this project, Charlie Lee became a key figure in the early days of the crypto. He has been deeply involved in the mining industry for many years and has witnessed the rise and fall of cryptocurrencies.
Friedcat : The most poignant and legendary figure, and the one I felt I absolutely shouldn't have overlooked in my final list. He was one of the first to bring mining rigs to China, and at his peak, many of today's prominent figures in the crypto had to queue up to meet him. But at the height of his career, he mysteriously disappeared, and his whereabouts remain unknown to this day. He may be gone, but his legend lives on—his disappearance is not only a personal tragedy but also one of the biggest mysteries in crypto history.
Domestic giants: the "core force" supporting China's crypto.
The development of China's crypto is inseparable from the planning and promotion of these big names. Some of them run exchanges, some invest, and some are deeply involved in technology, each with their own strengths.
Li Xiaolai , known as "China's Bitcoin Richest Man," is an angel investor. He is best known for his photo of "burning US dollars," which became a "traffic code" in the crypto. He invested in Bitcoin early on, accumulating enormous wealth. Later, he ventured into other investments, leaving behind a lot of controversy. However, it is undeniable that he is one of the most influential figures in the early days of China's crypto.
Wu Jihan : A top student with double degrees from Peking University (Psychology + Economics), founder of Bitmain, known as the "Emperor of Computing Power" and "A Generation of Mining Tycoon." He is low-key and reserved, but a true powerhouse—Bitmain was once the world's largest mining machine manufacturer, controlling the core computing power in the crypto and influencing the entire mining landscape.
CZ(CZ) : Founder and CEO of Binance, one of the most influential figures in the crypto exchange industry. Since its establishment, Binance has rapidly risen to become a top global exchange thanks to its efficient operations and global footprint. This achievement has propelled CZ into the ranks of the crypto elite, and his every move is closely watched by the market.
Li Lin : Founder of Huobi, a graduate of the Department of Automation at Tsinghua University, a true high achiever. He led his team to build Huobi into a leading global blockchain asset trading platform, witnessing the rapid growth of China's crypto and promoting the popularization of cryptocurrencies.
Star Xu : Founder of OKCoin, former CTO of Douban.com, and currently the focus of much discussion. OKCoin was once one of the top three cryptocurrency exchanges in China, having cultivated the cryptocurrency trading field for many years. Star Xu also became a core figure in the crypto through this platform, although he has been the subject of much controversy in recent years.
He Yi : Known as the "Queen of Crypto," she comes with a built-in media presence. She was formerly a host on Travel Channel before joining OKCoin. As a co-founder, she helped OKCoin increase its market share in China to 60%. In 2017, she joined Binance and once again contributed to Binance's rise with her outstanding operational capabilities. She is one of the few top female figures in the crypto.
Investment and Technology Enthusiasts: The "Hidden Giants" Planning for the Future
Besides exchanges and pioneers, there is a group of big names who are deeply involved in investment and technology, quietly laying the groundwork for the future of the industry. They may not be as well-known, but their influence should not be underestimated.
Shen Bo : Former founding team member of BitShares, now a partner at Distributed Capital. Distributed Capital is China's largest professional blockchain investment fund, holding a large number of high-quality blockchain projects, and Shen Bo has become one of the "trendsetters" in the crypto investment field.
Shuai Chu : Founder and CEO of Qtum, he began researching blockchain technology during his doctoral studies and has participated in numerous blockchain projects both domestically and internationally. Qtum is the first large-scale POS mechanism smart contract platform, and the "3 o'clock group" that ignited the crypto during the Spring Festival was initially driven by his sharing of content.
Da Hongfei : CEO of NEO, founder of NEO Blockchain, and CEO of Onchain Distributed Technology. He is an early participant in the Bitcoin movement and an active member of the digital currency community. He has deep expertise in underlying blockchain technology and has promoted the implementation and development of blockchain technology in China.
Han Feng : Founder of Elastos, who redesigns internet security with computational thinking, attempting to solve the pain points of internet privacy and security. His project has also become an important exploration direction for the application of blockchain technology.
Huang Minqiang : Founder and CEO of GXChain, a senior product manager, previously worked at companies such as Zhejiang University Network Technology and HanDing YuYou. GXChain focuses on the data exchange field and is a representative project combining blockchain and data. Huang Minqiang has also become a representative of tech leaders through this project.
Controversy and Influencer Rivals: A Unique Landscape in the Crypto
The crypto not only has serious tech and investment gurus, but also a group of people who have gained popularity due to controversy and internet celebrity status. They may not be the core of the industry, but they are an important part of the crypto culture.
Bao Erye (Guo Hongcai) : A down-to-earth opinion leader and angel investor in the crypto. He speaks frankly and has a down-to-earth style, making him popular among ordinary investors and one of the most talked-about figures in the crypto. His wife, Yangyang, is also a celebrity in the crypto and founded "Yangyang Interviews".
Justin Sun : Founder of Tron (TRX), a disciple of Jack Ma, holds a master's degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor's degree from Peking University, and carries an "elite" label. He is skilled in marketing, and Tron has become a popular project in the crypto thanks to its strong promotion. Justin Sun himself is constantly controversial, but his popularity remains high.
Xue Manzi : A well-known angel investor who claimed to have "achieved financial freedom" through blockchain at the age of 65. He entered the crypto in his later years and, with his own resources and influence, invested in many blockchain projects, becoming a "senior tycoon" in the crypto.
Du Jun : Founder of Jinse Finance, Huobi shareholder, and Node Capital. He once claimed he was not a "market manipulator," yet he has always been embroiled in controversy. He single-handedly built Jinse Finance into a core information platform in the crypto industry while also engaging in investment, making him a representative figure of the "integrated media and capital" model in the crypto.
Lang Xianping : A renowned economist, he is still ridiculed by Bitcoin enthusiasts for once saying, "If you give me 100 Bitcoins, I won't take them." His negative comments on cryptocurrencies have become a classic "famous moment" in the crypto.
All In Old Man : The most popular "meme king"in the crypto. Originally the protagonist of the "bargaining with a corpse" incident, he was ridiculed by crypto netizens because of his exaggerated expressions. He became a representative of the "All In spirit" of "winning means going to a club with young models, losing means going to work in the sex industry", and has provided a lot of laughs in the crypto.
Che Guevara the Thief : A viral internet celebrity who appeared on television for stealing electric bikes, his famous quote, "I will never work, I will never work in my life," went viral. Later, crypto netizens used it to mock those who fantasize about getting rich overnight through cryptocurrency trading and are unwilling to work hard, making him one of the "spiritual symbols" of the crypto.
