Changpeng Zhao (CZ), founder and ex-CEO of Binance, is a key figure in crypto, growing his platform to 170 million users amidst regulatory and market challenges. His driving philosophy is to ‘keep building’, through good times and bad, to deliver new products and features that users truly value. . By ensuring a smooth transition of power to Richard Teng, the new Binance CEO, CZ demonstrated his commitment to stability and the needs of the global crypto community.

Under Vitlik’s leadership, the Ethereum Foundation has completed the Shanghai & Shapella Upgrade, the last significant step in Ethereum's transition from Proof of Work to Proof of Stake. He has continued to push Layer 2 tech, adoption and expand the Ethereum developer network. Vitaliks's relentless pursuit of innovation, as well as his visionary ideas for security, scalability, and sustainability, continues to shape the trajectory of blockchain technology.

Julia Leung, leading Hong Kong's Securities and Futures Commission, champions making the city a global crypto hub. She's pivotal in the recent surge of crypto-friendly moves in Hong Kong, advocating policies that welcome innovation despite skepticism. Her efforts led to significant changes, like allowing crypto spot ETF investing and tokenized securities trading. Leung's collaborative leadership helps to foster a legal and innovative environment for both crypto projects and investors.