In the new Forbes ranking “The Richest Crypto And Bitcoin Billionaires In The World 2024”, shareholders of Tether make their debut, such as CEO Paolo Ardoino and CFO Giancarlo Devasini.
The richest crypto billionaires in the world 2024: Tether shareholders debut in the ranking
Recently, Forbes has compiled and published the new ranking The richest crypto and bitcoin billionaires in the world 2024.
The Richest Crypto And Bitcoin Billionaires In The World 2024: https://t.co/T64MhFF8WS #ForbesBillionaires pic.twitter.com/h5K8J5JXRi
— Forbes (@Forbes) April 3, 2024
Apparently, compared to the 9 people from last year, the current ranking shows 17 people have become crypto billionaires.
This was made possible thanks to the factors that occurred in these first three months of 2024. Among other things, in fact, there was the end of the crypto winter, the approval of Bitcoin spot ETFs in the USA, the increase in the price of BTC which soared and recorded a new all-time high above $73,000.
The total value of all cryptocurrencies has increased by 170%, with the addition of over $1.6 trillion in market value in the last 12 months.
For these 17 crypto billionaires, including investors and entrepreneurs, Forbes reports that we are talking about a collective value of 93 billion.
Not only that, for this 2024, in the ranking The richest crypto and bitcoin billionaires in the world, four major shareholders of Tether make their debut: Giancarlo Devasini, Paolo Ardoino, Jean-Louis van der Velde and Stuart Hoegner.
The richest crypto billionaires in the world 2024: who are the four shareholders of Tether
As anticipated, in the current Forbes ranking on the world’s richest crypto and bitcoin billionaires in 2024, the four shareholders of Tether stand out.
Specifically, Stuart Hoegner is in 14th place, with a net worth of 2.5 billion dollars. Hoegner has been the general counsel for Tether and Bitfinex since 2014, currently holding an estimated 13% stake in the largest stablecoin issuing crypto company.
Entering the top 10, we then have in sixth place Jean-Louis van der Velde with a net worth of 3.9 billion dollars. The former CEO of Tether now works as head of maintaining Tether’s high-level strategic relationships with banks and regulatory authorities. Currently, he holds about 20% of the crypto company.
In fifth place of the ranking of the richest crypto and bitcoin billionaires in the world in 2024, there is Paolo Ardoino with a net worth of 3.9 billion dollars. Ardoino is the current CEO of Tether and he also owns about 20% of the crypto company.
Giancarlo Devasini, on the other hand, is the only shareholder of Tether who climbs the podium of the world’s richest crypto and bitcoin billionaires in 2024, exactly in third place. With a net worth of 9.2 billion dollars, the CFO of Tether holds a whopping 47% of the crypto company, making him the largest individual shareholder.
Billionaires behind the well-known crypto-exchanges on the podium
Looking at the podium, it seems that in first and second place there are crypto characters behind two well-known crypto-exchanges.
And indeed, despite his admission of guilt, the fine, and his resignation, former Binance CEO, Changpeng CZ Zhao, is still at the top of the list of the richest crypto and bitcoin billionaires in the world in 2024.
With a net worth of 33 billion dollars, CZ seems to continue to hold 90% of the most popular crypto-exchange Binance.
This is the third consecutive year that CZ wins this crypto ranking, also entering the top 50 positions in the overall ranking of the richest people in the world.
In second place on the list, then, is Brian Armstrong, with a net worth of 11.2 billion dollars. The co-founder of Coinbase is the largest shareholder of the crypto company, with an 18% stake. Thanks to the bull run in the crypto market, COIN shares have seen a 50% increase year over year and have tripled compared to last year.
Michael Saylor, Chris Larsen, the Winklevoss twins, Mike Novogratz and others
The ranking includes other prominent names in the crypto scene. Michael Saylor, the founder and CEO of MicroStrategy, is in fourth place with a net worth of 4.4 billion dollars.
Forbes points out, however, that in percentage terms, Saylor is the biggest cryptocurrency billionaire.
This is because Saylor has transformed his software company into a bitcoin investment vehicle, with shares skyrocketing +500% compared to last year.
MicroStrategy holds approximately 193,000 BTC, making it the largest company in the world as a bitcoin holder.
In seventh place there is the co-founder of Ripple and current executive chairman, Chris Larsen, with a net worth of 3.2 billion dollars. His ownership stake in Ripple is 18%.
Even the Winklevoss twins are in 11th place in this ranking of the richest crypto and bitcoin billionaires in the world in 2024. With a net worth of 2.7 billion dollars, the twins control 75% of the crypto-exchange Gemini.
Finally, the list also includes other names of crypto investors such as Mike Novogratz of Galaxy Digital, as well as venture capitalist Tim Draper.