Most Influential 2021: Jerome Powell
The Federal Reserve chairman is likely the most influential man in crypto, as he is in all markets.

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell is likely the most influential man in crypto. Too bad he hates the stuff. As leader of the U.S. central bank, Powell perpetrated the largest monetary experiment in history in response to the coronavirus crisis – including expanding the supply of U.S. dollars, nearly doubling the Fed’s balance sheet and allowing the economy to “run hot” amid inflation fears. There’s an argument to be had over whether the “easy money” policy caused the run-up in asset valuations that crypto was part of this year. But one thing is for sure: More people than ever bought into the idea of bitcoin as an inflation hedge during this period of unprecedented monetary finagling.
The Complete List: CoinDesk’s Most Influential 2021

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State of the Blockchain 2025

L1 tokens broadly underperformed in 2025 despite a backdrop of regulatory and institutional wins. Explore the key trends defining ten major blockchains below.
What to know:
2025 was defined by a stark divergence: structural progress collided with stagnant price action. Institutional milestones were reached and TVL increased across most major ecosystems, yet the majority of large-cap Layer-1 tokens finished the year with negative or flat returns.
This report analyzes the structural decoupling between network usage and token performance. We examine 10 major blockchain ecosystems, exploring protocol versus application revenues, key ecosystem narratives, mechanics driving institutional adoption, and the trends to watch as we head into 2026.
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Hong Kong regulators target 2026 legislation for virtual asset dealer and custodian rules

The FSTB and SFC concluded consultations on virtual regimes and plan to introduce new bill to LegCo next year.
What to know:
- Hong Kong plans to introduce legislative proposals to regulate virtual asset dealers and custodians in 2026.
- The proposals aim to create a licensing framework under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance.
- The SFC is consulting on extending oversight to virtual asset advisers and managers, with comments due by Jan. 23.












