Member-only story
Since the Fall of FTX and Sam Bankman-Fried, Who Will Likely be the Next ‘Face of Crypto’?
As the dust settles on the dismal debacle tha was FTX, and Sam Bankman-Fried’s swift descent from crypto royalty to cautionary tale, the cryptoverse is left wondering: who’s next in line for the crown? Will it be a seasoned veteran or a plucky newcomer? Place your bets, friends, as we speculate on the most likely contenders vying for the title of king or queen of crypto.
The Dark Horse: Changpeng Zhao, aka CZ, Binance’s enigmatic founder. With FTX out of the way, CZ’s empire is now the largest crypto exchange by trading volume. His reputation as a shrewd businessman and master of the crypto game has only grown. Some say he’s been quietly pulling the strings from behind the scenes, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Could CZ be the one to rule them all?
The Regulator’s Favorite: Brian Armstrong, CEO of Coinbase. As the most compliant of crypto exchanges, Coinbase has always played nice with regulators. With the FTX fiasco fresh in everyone’s minds, governments are likely to crack down on crypto even harder. Who better to navigate these treacherous waters than Armstrong, the poster child for crypto’s grown-up, suit-and-tie approach? His willingness to work with authorities might just pay off in the form of… well, a crown.
