Most Influential 2023


Consensus Magazine

Shytoshi Kusama and the SHIB community Proved that ‘Meme Coins’ Are No Joke

With the launch of Shibarium this year, Shytoshi Kusama and the SHIB community have established themselves as a force to be reckoned with in DeFi and Web3.

Shib/Shytoshi Kusama (Mason Webb/CoinDesk)

Consensus Magazine

Luca Schnetzler: When NFTs Crashed, He Led Pudgy Penguins to Success

While much of the NFT market was taking beatings, the Pudgy Penguins CEO (who's also known as Luca Netz) drove his brand forward, setting up shop with some of the largest retail stores in the country.

Luca Netz (Mason Webb/CoinDesk)

Consensus Magazine

Ravi Menon: Singapore's Middle Way Regulator

Singapore's central bank head has steered a path between Hong Kong's embrace of crypto and India's stifling of it.

Ravi Menon, the head of Singapore's central bank (Mason Webb/CoinDesk)

Consensus Magazine

'Pacman' Gobbled NFT Sales With Blur

Blur upended OpenSea's NFT marketplace dominance by focusing on big traders. Its cofounder, Pacman, who doxxed himself to face its burgeoning community, earns a spot on CoinDesk's Most Influential 2023.

Logik's image of Pacman for Most Influential 2023.

Consensus Magazine

Hayden Adams: From Ethereum Idealist to Business Realist at Uniswap

Uniswap, the first decentralized crypto exchange of its kind, was Adams’ first and greatest contribution to Ethereum. The latest V4, inviting praise and criticism, earns him a spot on the Most Influential 2023.

Uniswap's Hayden Adams (portrait by Mason Webb for CoinDesk)

Consensus Magazine

Richard Teng: Steering Binance in a New Era of Compliance

With Binance founder Changpeng "CZ" Zhao gone, the new CEO has big shoes to fill as he's tasked with cleaning up the reputation of the world's largest crypto exchange.

Richard Teng (Mason Webb/CoinDesk)

Consensus Magazine

Patrick McHenry Is Dragging Crypto Bills Through Congress

The bowtied chairman of the House Financial Services Committee has shown persistence in the face of increasing partisanship on crypto issues.

U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry in grey jacket and pink bow tie

Consensus Magazine

Analisa Torres: The Judge Who Gave Ripple and XRP Hope

The U.S. District judge's partial ruling in favor of Ripple regarding XRP could create a precedent the crypto industry can come back to over and over.

Judge Analisa Torres (Mason Webb/CoinDesk)

Consensus Magazine

Anatoly Yakovenko and Solana Bounce Back

With a rocketing token and tech improvements on the horizon, the Solana community – rallied by industry champion Anatoly Yakovenko – defied the odds of defeat.

Anatoly Yakovenko (Mason Webb/CoinDesk)

Consensus Magazine

Pascal Gauthier Gave Crypto What It Needs – And Earned Jeers

Crypto wallet company Ledger created a controversial seed recovery service, something newbies truly need, but suffered through a massive backlash.

Coldie's depiction of Pascal Gauthier, CEO of Ledger

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