Crypto Influencers in 2026

The crypto market is reaching a maturity stage, with the approval of a Bitcoin ETF being one of the most significant steps towards mass adoption – this year! But how easy is it to use crypto to travel, and what are the grey areas? In this article, we follow some of the world’s crypto gurus along with anonymous holders to find out how they’re travelling the world in style. While some companies started accepting crypto as the means of payment for goods and services, others are still too sensitive to the volatile fluctuations in price.

At JetFinder.com we’re among the pioneers who accept crypto to pay for private jet flights, and we can proudly state it’s a step towards the right direction – the future. Join us as we discuss the profile of crypto influencers, but also cover the pros and cons of crypto payments in the travel industry. On our way, we’ll let you know how easy it is to rely on assets such as BTC, ETH and USDT to travel the world on some of the most luxurious jets.

We’ll focus on five of the most prominent names in the crypto space. These personalities develop technology, manage exchanges and shape the future of crypto wherever it takes us. You may know some – or none – of them, but one thing’s for sure; you’ll realize how they built their wealth out of digital assets and climbed the ladder. Naturally, all of these are used to flying the world in style. Furthermore, we wouldn’t be surprised if any of the following names grabs the #1 spot as the world’s richest.

Crypto heavyweights are not short of responsibilities, either. Their companies manage billions in assets and can move outrageous amounts of money in a split second. With such a volatile industry, only the very finest can find the place to succeed and keep making a positive impact in the crypto industry’s future. We’ll let you know who these crypto influencers are, how they got to where they are, and some of the lesser positive notes on their path. Let’s meet them, shall we?

CZ is the face of the world’s largest crypto exchange, Binance. As its CEO, the Chinese-born entrepreneur moved to Canada in his teenage years. After taking computer science at McGill University in Montreal, he made a name for himself as a trading software developer. His contributions to the Tokyo Stock Exchange comprised advanced trading software, which led him to provide similar services for Bloomberg’s Tradebook.

Success doesn’t happen overnight, and CZ began his crypto adventure at Blockchain.info as head of technology, followed by a move as CTO for OKCoin. OKCoin closed the gap in crypto-to-fiat conversion, allowing users to convert their digital assets into traditional money. While nowadays we can easily find several platforms offering this service, back in 2013 it was a groundbreaking step for the industry, and CZ played a major role towards mass adoption.

Binance is a different story. Its rapid expansion means the exchange offers far more than crypto trading. Futures and options, interest-earning products and even a platform to launch new projects are only a few of the many innovations Binance brought us under CZ’s leadership. BNB (Binance Coin) is the exchange’s token, trading at some $600 per token as we write these lines. The token serves as a store of value, but also as an incentive for traders to access lower transaction fees, gain interest, or even unlock rewards and new projects.

CZ adopted an active communication style, extrapolated by the power of social media. His partnerships with athletes such as Cristiano Ronaldo are as popular as they are prone to turmoil. Binance keeps facing several regulatory challenges across the world but remains one of the main beacons of the crypto industry. Much of that success derives from CZ’s ability to interpret and create the mechanisms in an industry very few were willing to understand a few years ago.

Binance is known to charter private jets to ensure CZ and other of its personalities travel around the world and meet their busy schedule. With a fortune to his name in the region of $37 billion, the crypto guru can surely buy a whole fleet of private jets if he wishes so. His lifestyle is, however, more simple than most could imagine, and his dedication to his company and his life’s work doesn’t leave much room for unnecessary luxuries.

The CEO of Binance made the news over the past few years due to regulatory challenges across multiple countries. Governments and financial authorities have frequently flagged the exchange for operating without proper licences, leading to bans or restricted operations in several jurisdictions, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan. More recently, CZ has been at the centre of controversies related to the transparency of Binance’s financial dealings and security protocols. There have been multiple reports and accusations regarding the mishandling of customer data and potential security lapses that could jeopardize user funds. His aggressive expansion tactics and the rapid scaling of Binance’s operations are perceived as prioritizing growth over user protection and regulatory compliance, leading to accusations of a profit-first mentality.

Brian Armstrong is the visionary CEO of Coinbase, one of the first cryptocurrency exchanges that made digital currencies accessible to users everywhere. After studying computer science and economics at Rice University and honing his skills at Airbnb in payment systems, Armstrong launched Coinbase in 2012. His goal was clear: simplify the crypto experience to enable widespread adoption. Coinbase quickly became a beacon for newcomers, thanks to its intuitive interface and intuitive services.

Under Armstrong’s guidance, Coinbase evolved beyond a traditional trading platform to include services like Coinbase Pro for professional traders, a user-friendly wallet for retail customers, and other financial services involving cryptocurrencies. His commitment to innovation is also evident in the launch of USD Coin (USDC), a stablecoin that aims to marry cryptocurrency’s innovative traits with the stable value of the dollar, reflecting his vision of fusing stability with digital finance advancement.

Despite his substantial influence and wealth, Armstrong maintains a modest lifestyle, prioritizing his mission over material gain. His efforts go towards regulatory clarity and promoting crypto as a tool for economic freedom highlighting his role as a main crypto influencer in the global financial landscape, continuously pushing for broader adoption and understanding of these assets.

Brian Armstrong also faced criticism for his management style and company culture decisions. Back in 2020, Armstrong issued a controversial directive stating that Coinbase would be a “mission-focused” company, which meant avoiding societal and political issues not directly related to its core mission. This stance led to a significant backlash both internally and externally, with over 60 employees choosing to take an exit package after he announced that activism and societal issues would not be a focus at Coinbase.

Furthermore, Armstrong has been under fire for his handling of customer service issues, with users frequently complaining about poor response times and lack of support, which some see as not aligning with the company’s user-centric values. These controversies have painted a picture of a leader who, while innovative and successful, sometimes makes decisions that are perceived as out of touch with community expectations and the evolving norms around corporate responsibility in the tech industry.

Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss co-founded Gemini, a crypto exchange and custodian, grabbing a hold of a significant niche in the crypto ecosystem. Graduates of Harvard University and Olympic rowers, the twins gained fame through their early involvement in Facebook’s founding saga, portrayed in the 2010’s movie The Social Network. Their entry into the crypto sphere was marked by substantial early investments in Bitcoin, laying the way for launching Gemini in 2015. The platform arrived with a strong emphasis on compliance and security, aiming to build trust among institutions and individual investors.

Gemini distinguished itself by adhering to rigorous regulatory standards, which represented a breath of fresh air in an industry still trying to find its path. Under the Winklevoss twins’ leadership, Gemini has expanded its offerings to include a mobile app, a secure wallet, and Gemini Dollar (GUSD), a U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoin similar to Coinbase’s USDC. This commitment to combining technological innovation with strict regulatory adherence highlights their vision to close the gap between traditional finance and the crypto world.

Despite their high-profile background and considerable wealth, Tyler and Cameron maintain a focused approach to promoting the use of blockchain technology to democratize access to wealth and information. Their public engagements and media presence often centre around the transformative potential of cryptocurrencies and the importance of a regulated approach to encourage broader adoption. The twins’ dedication to advancing the crypto industry is reflected not only in their business achievements but also in their advocacy for the transformative power of digital assets.

Beyond their legal battles around Facebook and media portrayals, the Winklevoss twins have been scrutinized for their aggressive pursuit of dominance in the crypto world. Their involvement in several legal disputes with other crypto entrepreneurs and firms hints at a fiercely competitive streak, often seen as an extension of their Harvard-era litigation. Critics argue that their approach can sometimes reflect a win-at-all-costs attitude, which might overshadow their contributions to the blockchain and crypto industry. Additionally, their push for heavy regulation in a traditionally deregulated space has stirred controversy among crypto purists, who view their advocacy as a potential stifling of innovation and a barrier to the decentralized ethos of cryptocurrencies.

Justin Sun is a major figure in the crypto world, best known for founding TRON, a blockchain-based platform aimed at decentralizing digital content distribution. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Sun has always had a keen interest in technology and digital rights management. His vision for TRON was to create a more democratic internet, where creators could directly monetize their content without intermediaries. The platform quickly gained traction, thanks to its innovative approach to content rights and a highly effective marketing strategy represented by Sun himself.

Apart from his role at TRON, Sun is also known for his involvement with BitTorrent, after acquiring the company back in 2018. This move was seen as a strategic endeavour to leverage BitTorrent’s massive user base and further the adoption of blockchain technology across a broader audience. His leadership in integrating blockchain solutions with the BitTorrent ecosystem has been praised for demonstrating real-world applications of cryptocurrency technology beyond mere financial transactions. Sun’s dynamic approach and forward-thinking have positioned him as a catalyst for change in the way digital content is shared and monetized globally.

Justin Sun’s persona is marked by his adept use of social media and public relations. He made headlines with his winning $4.5 million bid to have lunch with Warren Buffett, an event he used to advocate for the potential and legitimacy of blockchain technology. His enthusiasm and flamboyant promotional tactics have attracted significant attention and investment into TRON, making it one of the most discussed projects in the blockchain space. Sun’s ability to engage with both the eastern and western markets has notably contributed to TRON’s international recognition and adoption.

However, Justin Sun’s career has not been without its controversies. His promotional strategies have sometimes been criticized as overly aggressive or misleading. Sun faced allegations of plagiarizing sections of TRON’s whitepaper and overstating the platform’s capabilities and partnerships. These incidents have led to scepticism about the authenticity and viability of TRON’s technology in fulfilling its ambitious claims. Moreover, his management style and decision-making processes have been questioned, with claims of high turnover rates within his team and disputes over intellectual property, highlighting challenges in Sun’s leadership approach and the operational practices at TRON.

Vitalik Buterin is best known as the co-founder of Ethereum, a decentralized platform that runs smart contracts. Born in Russia and raised in Canada, Buterin was introduced to Bitcoin by his father and quickly became passionate for the technology. His journey into blockchain technology began with the founding of Bitcoin Magazine, but his vision extended beyond the limitations he perceived in Bitcoin’s blockchain. This led him to conceptualize Ethereum in 2013, a platform that would go beyond the financial use cases of Bitcoin and incorporate a broader range of applications through its own native programming language.

Buterin’s development of Ethereum has significantly impacted the crypto landscape, introducing the concept of a blockchain that could execute complex contracts and decentralized applications (DApps). This innovation has paved the way for numerous advancements in blockchain technology, including the development of decentralized finance (DeFi) and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). As a result, Ethereum has grown to be the leading platform for blockchain application development. Vitalik’s contributions to the field have not only been technical. His philosophical writings and talks have helped shape the ideological underpinnings of the blockchain community, advocating for decentralization and security.

Despite his young age, Buterin’s influence extends across the tech world, and his opinions on cryptocurrency governance, scalability, and sustainability are highly respected. He is known for his humble lifestyle and commitment to using blockchain technology for social good, promoting projects that aim to solve real-world issues such as access to financial services and transparency in governance. His dedication to his vision and his thoughtful approach to the ethical implications of technology make him a respected and inspirational figure in the tech community.

However, Vitalik Buterin’s leadership has faced criticism, particularly regarding the scalability challenges of Ethereum. As the platform has grown in popularity, it has struggled with high gas fees and slower transaction times during peak usage. These issues have raised questions about the practicality of Ethereum handling general adoption without significant changes to its infrastructure. Critics argue that Buterin and his team were too slow to address these scalability issues, which has led to the rise of competing blockchains offering more efficient solutions. Moreover, his outspoken nature and public disagreements on technical decisions have sometimes divided the Ethereum community, leading to debates over the future direction of the platform.

The cryptocurrency industry, while innovative and transformative, has also seen its share of infamous figures involved in scams and fraudulent schemes. Here are five notable individuals:

1. Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) – Former CEO of FTX, one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, Sam Bankman-Fried was a celebrated figure in crypto until his empire spectacularly collapsed in 2022. Allegations surfaced that SBF had misappropriated billions of dollars of customer funds, using them to bail out his trading firm, Alameda Research, among other misuses. This led to FTX filing for bankruptcy, and SBF was charged with multiple counts of fraud, representing one of the most high-profile downfalls in crypto history.
2. Ruja Ignatova – Known as the “Cryptoqueen,” Ruja Ignatova founded OneCoin in 2014, promoting it as a new cryptocurrency. However, OneCoin was later revealed to be a Ponzi scheme, deceiving investors worldwide out of billions of dollars. Ignatova capitalized on the crypto hype to sell a fraudulent product, leading to massive financial losses for investors. She disappeared in 2017 and remains at large, leaving behind a trail of financial destruction and ongoing legal battles.
3. Gerald Cotten – The founder of QuadrigaCX, Canada’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, Gerald Cotten was reported to have died in India in 2018 under mysterious circumstances. After his death, it was revealed that approximately $190 million in customer funds was missing from the exchange. Investigations suggested that Cotten had sole control of the exchange’s wallets and funds, using this access to misappropriate assets over several years. As a result, thousands of users were robbed, again sparking controversy over the lack of regulatory oversight in the crypto industry.
4. Ray Trapani – Ray Trapani became notoriously known for his involvement in the Centra Tech scam, where he and his co-founders deceitfully promoted a cryptocurrency debit card, the “Centra Card,” falsely claiming partnerships with Visa and Mastercard. The operation, which garnered high-profile endorsements and raised over $25 million through a fraudulent Initial Coin Offering (ICO), was eventually exposed by the SEC. Trapani’s actions led to significant investor losses and heightened regulatory scrutiny in the cryptocurrency sector, underscoring the risks of deceptive practices in the burgeoning industry. This is a must-watch story, available on Netflix in its Bitconned documentary.

You don’t need to be a crypto influencer to fly on a private jet today. JetFinder invites its customers to charter a jet anywhere in the world while paying with crypto, unlocking the best of air travel conveniently and safely. With transfers processed in a matter of minutes, you’ll be able to grab the best deals, from empty legs to the exclusive getaway with your family and friends. Crypto payments are only one of the many ways in which we can help you obtain the best fares for the flights you want.

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