The rise of the crypto industry is a secret to no one. Over the past years, we’ve all been witnesses to the rapid development of this innovative sector, with digital currencies growing in popularity and expanding into areas like e-commerce, institutional investments, travel, and even online gambling. Who would have thought that an asset class that was so viciously rejected and criticized in the beginning would turn into such a ubiquitous presence so fast?
It wasn’t that long ago that people viewed crypto as a strange experiment or a dangerous tool that could bring nothing but trouble. Yet here we are today, with over 500 million crypto holders across the globe, leaving no room for doubt that perceptions around digital currencies have indeed changed. People are now using crypto to pay for all sorts of goods and services, gamblers are playing crypto poker alongside conventional games, and even governments and organizations have warmed up to this asset category. We’re basically living in the crypto era, whether we’re aware of it or not.
There are many factors that have contributed to crypto’s progress and popularization, too many to list in one blog. But part of it was also due to the strong endorsement and involvement by individuals from the higher echelons of society, including successful businessmen and entrepreneurs, political figures, artists, athletes, and other influential personalities. They form a special category of crypto holders whose contribution to the development of the industry is undeniable. So, let’s see who the big guns of the crypto complex are.
Satoshi Nakamoto
It’s difficult to include Satoshi in a specific category since no one knows who they are and if they even exist. All we know is that in 2008, someone who went by this name published a white paper titled Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System, and then went on to launch Bitcoin in 2009, an event that kicked off the crypto phenomenon.
But regardless of who hides behind the pseudonym, we can’t ignore Satoshi’s celebrity status and the fact that they have allegedly amassed an impressive crypto holding, estimated by analysts at around 1 million BTC, which today would be worth over $70 billion. If this figure were true, Satoshi would be the biggest and richest crypto holder in the world, so placing them at the top of our list makes perfect sense. If you’re wondering what’s going to happen to this untouched stash that no one but Satoshi can access, that’s just as big a mystery as the true identity of Bitcoin’s creator. Maybe one day, Satoshi will come back and claim the fortune, or maybe it will remain locked and lost forever.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk’s connections to the crypto world date back to 2014, when he first commented on Bitcoin’s existence, saying that the asset could be a good thing, although he was still on the fence about crypto at the time.
Musk became much more vocal on the matter around 2019 and eventually turned into one of the most prominent and influential crypto advocates. His tweets about Dogecoin became legendary and helped propel the dog-themed coin to the top of the crypto hierarchy. In 2021, Musk’s company, Tesla, made the headlines after investing $1.5 billion in Bitcoin. The company also accepts payments in Dogecoin for select products on its online store. As a true crypto devotee, Musk has a generous crypto portfolio made of Bitcoin, Ethereum, and his personal favorite Dogecoin, although the exact size of his holdings is unknown.
Donald Trump
Surprising as it may be, one of crypto’s most outspoken supporters is none other than the sitting President of the United States. Like many others, Donald Trump is a crypto convert. He was initially against crypto and even called it a scam, but had a change of heart along the way and switched camps, becoming a passionate champion of digital assets.
Trump’s love of crypto is so big that he went as far as creating his own meme coin, a move which was also mirrored by First Lady Melania Trump. Apart from their eponymous tokens, the presidential couple has been involved in several other cryptocurrency projects, which makes it difficult to calculate their total crypto holding. But what matters most is that under the Trump administration, crypto benefits from a friendlier regulatory environment in the US, which can only help the industry grow and gain further legitimacy.
Michael Saylor
For many years, the tech tycoon didn’t think much of crypto, being busy running MicroStrategy, a business intelligence and cloud software company he co-founded in 1989. Then the pandemic struck and caused Saylor to reconsider his stance on digital money. Since then, he started advocating heavily for Bitcoin and even transformed MicroStrategy into a Bitcoin company through multiple acquisitions of the asset. According to the latest reports, Saylor’s personal crypto stash amounts to over 17,000 BTC, while MicroStrategy holds 641,692 BTC.
Mark Cuban
Most people know Mark Cuban from the reality TV series Shark Tank, where he was part of the investor panel for several seasons. Behind the scenes, Cuban is not only a successful businessman but also an enthusiastic crypto investor. The billionaire has invested in several digital assets and blockchain projects, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and various non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and is a firm believer that blockchain and crypto have the potential to revolutionize industries across the board.
Snoop Dogg
As expected, celebrities also caught the crypto bug, and Snoop Dogg was among the first to proclaim his passion for these innovative assets. In 2014, when the industry was still in its early days, the rapper started accepting Bitcoin for his album sales. He also jumped on the NFT bandwagon and continues to publicly support crypto through collaborations and by attending industry events.
Mike Tyson
Tyson is another early adopter of crypto, having been involved in this space since 2016, when he teamed up with a crypto company to launch a branded Bitcoin digital wallet. The former heavyweight champion went on to launch his own NFT collection and, more recently, became a brand ambassador for a blockchain project.
Serena Williams
Serena Williams has moved on from professional tennis and is now a successful businesswoman running several companies, including a venture capital firm, Serena Ventures, which also invests in crypto-related companies. The former champion has a significant crypto portfolio herself, which, according to the latest estimates, amounts to around $15 million.
The list of famous figures that support and invest in crypto is much longer, which only proves that crypto is not just a financial trend but a global phenomenon that shows no signs of stopping.
