Yi He

Yi He had earned the title “most powerful woman in crypto” before Binance promoted her to co-CEO in December. The China native, now based in the UAE, had been a behind-the-scenes operator, helping build Binance into the world’s largest crypto exchange alongside cofounder Changpeng Zhao. Her ascent signaled a new phase after Zhao’s guilty plea (and pardon) tied to inadequate money-laundering protections. Yi He is known for marketing savvy and customer relationships, key skills as Binance expands globally while facing fresh questions about compliance, which it says remains rigorous. Read more: How Binance’s Yi He became ‘the most powerful woman in crypto’—and steered the company past its biggest ordeal