In 2022, 19 individuals made the *World's Billionaires* list, according to Forbes, with fortunes derived from cryptocurrency and blockchain.
This number represents a seven-person increase compared to the previous year's Forbes list of cryptocurrency and blockchain billionaires.
Canadian citizen Changpeng Zhao topped the list in 2022, boasting a net worth of US$65 billion (approximately Rp933.72 trillion, with an exchange rate of US$1 = Rp14,365).
Zhao, the founder and CEO of Binance, also ranked as the 19th richest person globally. Forbes estimates that at least 70% of his wealth stems from Binance. The 44-year-old also holds Bitcoin assets and Binance's launched token, BNB.
Binance is a global-scale cryptocurrency trading platform. Throughout 2021, the company reportedly facilitated approximately two-thirds of all trading volume handled by centralized exchanges.
Binance's revenue last year is estimated at US$16 billion. Forbes predicts this revenue contributed a US$1.9 billion increase to Zhao's wealth.
The next cryptocurrency billionaire on the list is Sam Bankman-Fried, owner of the FTX cryptocurrency exchange, valued at US$32 billion. The American national holds a net worth of US$24 billion.
Brian Armstrong follows with a net worth of US$6.6 billion. Armstrong is the founder and CEO of Coinbase. This cryptocurrency exchange went public in April 2021 with a valuation of US$100 billion. The 39-year-old owns 19% of Coinbase's shares.
Here is the complete list of the top 10 cryptocurrency and blockchain billionaires in 2022, according to Forbes:
1. Changpeng Zhao
* Net worth: US$65 billion
* Source of wealth: Binance
* Nationality: Canadian
2. Sam Bankman-Fried
* Net worth: US$24 billion
* Source of wealth: FTX
* Nationality: US
3. Brian Armstrong
* Net worth: US$6.6 billion
* Source of wealth: Coinbase
* Nationality: US
4. Gary Wang
* Net worth: US$5.9 billion
* Source of wealth: FTX
* Nationality: US
5. Chris Larsen
* Net worth: US$4.3 billion
* Source of wealth: Ripple
* Nationality: US
6. Cameron Winklevoss
* Net worth: US$4 billion
* Source of wealth: Bitcoin
* Nationality: US
7. Tyler Winklevoss
* Net worth: US$4 billion
* Source of wealth: Bitcoin
* Nationality: US
8. Song Chi-hyung
* Net worth: US$3.7 billion
* Source of wealth: Upbit
* Nationality: South Korea
9. Barry Silbert
* Net worth: US$3.2 billion
* Source of wealth: Digital Currency Group
* Nationality: US
10. Jed McCaleb
* Net worth: US$2.5 billion
* Source of wealth: Ripple, Stellar
* Nationality: US
(Also read: [Under 30, Here's the List of the World's Youngest Billionaires with Trillions of Rupiah in Wealth!])