Brian Armstrong

In 2012 Brian Armstrong founded Coinbase as part of the crypto movement’s rebellion against the existing financial powers of Wall Street and Washington, D.C. Today, Armstrong’s onetime startup is a public company and the flagship brand of a rapidly maturing crypto industry. Meanwhile, Armstrong has begun wielding power in other arenas, pouring around $100 million (a mix of his own money and Coinbase’s) into efforts aimed at pressuring lawmakers to write more favorable crypto rules. The bet has paid off, with President Trump embracing the crypto sector during his second term in office and Congress poised to pass legislation that would establish regulation for the industry. Armstrong is plugged into Silicon Valley’s most powerful networks and has embraced one of its latest trends—investing millions into longevity startups.