Top 10 Most Influential Figures of Cryptocurrency in 2024

As 2024 draws to a close, cryptocurrency investors have much to celebrate. Bitcoin has once again outshined traditional investments like stocks, bonds, and gold, cementing its position as a dominant force in the financial world. With an astonishing 140% increase over the year, Bitcoin reached an all-time high of $108,000 in December, marking it as the best-performing asset of 2024.

It’s looking great for crypto and here’s who is behind it!

What’s Driving Bitcoin’s Rise?

Several significant events fueled Bitcoin’s remarkable growth this year:

• Approval of the First Bitcoin ETF: In January, the launch of the first Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) drew massive inflows, bringing mainstream attention to the cryptocurrency market.
• Trump’s Pro-Crypto Stance: Donald Trump’s outspoken support for cryptocurrencies during his presidential campaign, followed by his victory in the November elections, boosted market optimism. His appointment of Paul Atkins as the next SEC Chair further raised expectations for favorable regulations.

Top 10 Most Influential Figures in Crypto for 2024

The cryptocurrency market in 2024 has been shaped by individuals whose actions and views have profoundly impacted the industry. Here are the ten most influential figures driving innovation and growth.

1. Donald Trump – Former (and Upcoming) President and Crypto Advocate

President-elect Donald Trump endorsed pro-crypto policies during his presidential campaign and enabled fundraising for his inauguration via cryptocurrency donations. He also promised to launch a strategic Bitcoin reserve in his second term. The Trump campaign also accepted donations in cryptocurrency and he appeared at industry events, promising to make the US “the crypto capital of the world”. 

He also promised to create a Bitcoin and crypto presidential advisory council. He has boosted market confidence by signaling a pro-crypto regulatory stance, which led to increased adoption and investments. 

2. Elon Musk – CEO of SpaceX, Tesla

Elon Musk has frequently backed cryptocurrencies through his X posts. In 2021, Tesla purchased $1.5 billion in Bitcoin and planned to accept the coin as payment for its products and services. According to Bloomberg reports, the tech billionaire was also the largest political donor in the country, as he spent at least $270 million to support Donald Trump’s bid for the US presidency. Trump has also selected Musk to lead the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

While Musk occasionally speaks on other altcoins, but he generally speaks of Bitcoin and dogecoin in his public commentaries. Musk’s influence on crypto remains beyond comparison which also reflects how a person can ignite global discussions and shift market dynamics.

3. Brad Garlinghouse – CEO of Ripple

A vocal advocate for clear and fair crypto regulations, Brad Garlinghouse has been a central figure in the Ripple vs. SEC legal battle. He welcomed Trump’s selection of Paul Atkins as SEC Chair, expecting a shift toward balanced regulatory frameworks.

Garlinghouse described the 2024 election as a turning point for crypto, emphasizing Trump’s embrace of digital assets and the industry’s acceptance of his policies.

“I think it’s clear that Donald Trump embraced crypto and crypto embraced Donald Trump,” he stated. 

4. Michael Saylor – Chairman of MicroStrategy

Recently, MicroStrategy Executive Chairman, Michael Saylor has emerged as one of the biggest supporters of the crypto realm. Saylor is known for his vocal support of Bitcoin and his company’s substantial Bitcoin holdings. He has expressed strong backing for Trump’s proposal to establish a strategic Bitcoin reserve. 

Saylor recently presented a three-minute pitch to Microsoft’s board of directors, urging them to consider buying Bitcoin. He told Microsoft’s board of directors that Bitcoin could be a force multiplier for the company’s balance sheet, and its valuation.

“Microsoft has a choice to make: Cling to the past or embrace the future,”

5. Cynthia Lummis – US Senator

US Senator Cynthia Lummis proposed creating a Bitcoin national reserve. She had also suggested that the US government could sell some Federal Reserve’s Gold to fund the Bitcoin purchase. 

She has called 2025 a critical year for Bitcoin and crypto, as major government positions and proposed policies are expected to line up and bring about significant changes in the sector. She has also remarked that with David Sacks as Crypto Czar, this will be the most pro-digital asset administration ever.

6. Larry Fink – BlackRock CEO

Back in 2017, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink had said that Bitcoin was “an index of money laundering,” arguing that the cryptocurrency primarily reflects how much money is being made from criminal activity, he now believes that Bitcoin is an asset class in itself and is an alternative to other commodities like gold. 

While Fink admitted to being a proud Bitcoin skeptic earlier, after exploring more about it, he concluded that his previous opinion held for five years, was wrong. Remarkably, Fink’s BlackRock has turned out to be one of the biggest beneficiaries of the post-election surge in Bitcoin. 

BlackRock’s spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund (IBIT) has swelled by $13 billion since Trump’s win on Nov. 5, pushing iShares Bitcoin Trust past $40 billion in assets just 10 months following its launch.

7. Shayne Coplan – CEO of Polymarket

Shayne Coplan is an entrepreneur and innovator in the blockchain and decentralized finance (DeFi) space. Shayne is the CEO of Polymarket, which is a decentralized prediction market platform where users can trade on the outcomes of world events using blockchain. 

This year, Polymarket arose as the most fascinating and potentially valuable use case in the growing crypto industry. As the 2024 U.S. presidential race developed, it attracted many new users who successfully predicted important events, like Biden’s withdrawal and Trump’s win.

8. Vivek Ramaswamy – Biotech Entrepreneur and Crypto Advocate

Vivek Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur and former Republican presidential candidate, has been selected by President-elect Donald Trump to lead the Department of Government Efficiency alongside Elon Musk. Musk and Ramaswamy will lead the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, aimed to improve governance and cut down on wasteful expenditures. 

Ramaswamy, an active advisor in former President Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign, has consistently voiced strong support for Bitcoin. He views it as a robust alternative to the US dollar, highlighting its role in holding the Federal Reserve accountable and preventing currency manipulation.

He spoke at the Bitcoin conference in Nashville earlier this year, where Trump promised to turn America into a “Bitcoin superpower.” Prior to that, he had noted that he would implement a “comprehensive crypto policy framework” if elected commander-in-chief.

9. John Deaton – Legal Advocate

John Deaton, a renowned crypto lawyer and legal advocate, has been widely praised for his role in the Ripple (XRP) case. He has been skeptical about Gary Gensler as well who he believes to be stifling innovation in crypto and has endorsed Paul Atkins as the next SEC Chair. In a recent YouTube interview with the Good Morning Crypto podcast Deaton had noted that the SEC’s handling of cryptocurrency regulation in the Ripple lawsuit led to nearly $15 billion in losses for small crypto investors.

Founder of the law firm Deaton Law Firm, he has become a well-known figure within the crypto community for his efforts to protect the rights of retail investors and push back against regulatory actions he believes could harm the industry. 

10. Paul Atkins – Former SEC Commissioner

President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to run the SEC, Paul Atkins, is the leader the crypto industry wanted. Trump said Atkins, the CEO of Patomak Partners and a former SEC commissioner, was a “proven leader for common sense regulations.” In the years since leaving the SEC, Atkins has made the case against too much market regulation.

These influential figures have created a powerful synergy between politics, technology, and finance, paving the way for unprecedented growth in the crypto industry.

With a pro-crypto administration led by Trump and supported by advocates like Paul Atkins and John Deaton, 2025 promises to usher in a new era of innovation, adoption, and regulation in the cryptocurrency world.

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