Forbes recently released a list of the richest and most influential cryptocurrency billionaires, with Changpeng Zhao at the top. His net worth has tripled since 2023, now standing at $33 billion, largely due to his 90% stake in Binance, valued at $32.5 billion.

Despite facing legal challenges in the past year, including pleading guilty to U.S. anti-money laundering and sanctions violations, Zhao remains at the forefront of the billionaire ranking. As part of an agreement with the government, he will step down as Binance's CEO and pay a $50 million fine, while the exchange itself was ordered to pay $4.3 billion.

Zhao's sentencing on the money laundering charges is set for April 30, with his admission of guilt dating back to the fall of 2023.

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong secured second place on the list, with an estimated fortune of $11.2 billion, reflecting the company's market position and growth in Coinbase shares since early 2023. Tether CFO Giancarlo Devasini rounded out the top three billionaires, with his wealth estimated at $9.2 billion.