Most Influential: Changpeng “CZ” Zhao
Despite stepping down from Binance and serving prison time, Changpeng “CZ” Zhao remains highly influential, especially after receiving a pardon in 2025.Summary
Changpeng “CZ” Zhao remains one of the most closely watched figures in crypto, even after stepping down as Binance CEO in 2023 and serving a brief prison sentence for violating the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA). His prominence was amplified in 2025 when he received a pardon from U.S. President Donald Trump, for which CZ expressed deep gratitude. Although Trump later claimed not to know Zhao, CZ continued his active presence on social media, commenting on industry trends. His influence was demonstrated when a public disclosure of his $1.8 million position in ASTER, a token on BNB Chain, caused the token's price to rally significantly. Furthermore, in 2025, CZ took on a more active role in investment activities at YZi Labs (formerly Binance Labs), which reportedly managed about $10 billion in capital and invested in over 250 companies.
(Source：CoinDesk)