CoinDesk Most Influential 2025
Most Influential: Pavel Durov
The Telegram CEO may stand as the most pivotal figure in the bona fide mass adoption of cryptocurrency.
Most Influential: Sergey Nazarov
Chainlink’s co-founder spent 2025 turning oracles, cross-chain messaging and CRE into building blocks for tokenized funds and on-chain finance.
Most Influential: ZachXBT
ZachXBT still holds the crown as the crypto world’s pseudonymous Sherlock Holmes.
Most Influential: Todd Blanche
The crypto industry praised a memo signed by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche directing the Department of Justice to end “regulation by prosecution.”
Most Influential: Roman Storm
The Tornado Cash developer’s trial this summer is evidence that the crypto industry is still severely lacking regulatory clarity.
Most Influential: Tom Lee
A longtime fixture on Wall Street, Tom Lee’s pivot to crypto comes as the traditional finance industry is increasingly embracing digital assets.
Most Influential: Jesse Pollak
Base, the layer-2 network incubated by Coinbase, exploded in popularity this year.
Most Influential: David Bailey
Bailey’s Strategy-inspired bitcoin treasury company, KindlyMD, exemplified the struggles of many of its peers this year.
Most Influential: Michael Saylor
Despite facing a year of tough conditions for bitcoin treasury companies, Michael Saylor’s Strategy developed new ways to make money — and acquire more bitcoin for its vast holdings — in 2025.
