An annual ranking of the most influential figures in business, Fortune\u2019s 2018 list is an eclectic mix of what the American media giant would describe as \u201cdisruptors, innovators, rebels, and artists\u201d.<\/p>\n
Weighing in above pop icon Rihanna\u2019s 21st place, 35-year old Armstrong at position 20 has the edge over Buterin and the Robinhood founders \u2014 in 22nd and 24th places respectively. While the Ethereum Co-Founder may have slipped in the ranks, Buterin would presumably find solace in making it onto the list for his third consecutive year.<\/p>\n
Armstrong has presided over Coinbase since 2012 alongside co-founder Fred Ehrsam \u2014 the pair growing the San Francisco-based exchange to more than 20 million<\/a> users, and expecting a revenue of more than $1 billion<\/a> in 2018.<\/p>\n As the USA\u2019s leading cryptocurrency brokerage, Coinbase has arguably been instrumental in garnering mass adoption of the asset class. Earlier in January 2018, the exchange was one of five to gain authorization<\/a> to operate in the State of New York and has more recently gained approval to list security tokens<\/a>.<\/p>\n In celebration of what invariably represents mass recognition of the cryptocurrency industry, Boost VC founder Adam Draper tweeted:<\/p>\n This is awesome! @brian_armstrong<\/a> and @VitalikButerin<\/a> and @vladtenev<\/a> are ranked #20 and #22 and #24 on the @FortuneMagazine<\/a> #40Under40<\/a>. <\/p>\n #21 is @rihanna<\/a>! <\/p>\n "#Crypto<\/a> is as big as #Riri<\/a>" – new slogan for our industry.https:\/\/t.co\/m57fJW0mu8<\/a><\/p>\n — Adam Draper ? ? ? (@AdamDraper) July 19, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/coinbase-securitytokens-social-300x158.jpg\")
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