In a little over ten years, cryptocurrency has transformed from a budding idea into a trillion-dollar powerhouse. Central to this phenomenon is a new generation of billionaires who are redefining wealth.
What makes these individuals intriguing is not just their vast riches but the magnitude of their influence. These pioneers have established empires worth billions, spanning crypto platforms and blockchain networks, reshaping the very notion of gaining wealth.
Who Are the Youngest Billionaires in Crypto?
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A recent study provided to BeInCrypto by ApeX, a decentralized crypto trading platform, revealed the youngest billionaires in the industry—individuals who built their fortunes at remarkably young ages.
The research focused on individuals listed in respected billionaire rankings (such as Forbes’ World’s Billionaires List 2024 and Forbes’ Crypto & Bitcoin Billionaires 2024) and founders of significant crypto firms with valuations robust enough for billionaire status.
Due to the inherent volatility of cryptocurrency prices, not all these individuals maintain billionaire status consistently each year. However, each has achieved a credible billion-dollar valuation at some point between 2021 and 2025.
“The remarkable aspect of these young crypto billionaires is not solely their wealth, but how swiftly they’ve altered the financial landscape. Cryptocurrency has empowered entrepreneurs in their twenties and thirties to create global systems that bypass traditional financial frameworks. Their success underscores the transformative impact of digital-first innovation on both money and opportunity,” remarked a spokesperson from ApeX.
Together, these names illustrate individual success and the rapid evolution of crypto in generating—and redefining—global wealth. Let’s explore the top 3 youngest crypto billionaires.
1. Ed Craven
Ed Craven leads the list as the youngest crypto billionaire in 2025. The Australian entrepreneur reached this achievement at the age of 29 with an estimated net worth of $2.8 billion.
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This year, Forbes ranked him among the youngest billionaires. He stands as one of only two self-made billionaires under 30.
Craven co-founded Stake.com in 2017 with Bijan Tehrani, turning it into one of the largest crypto-backed online casinos worldwide. The platform reported $4.7 billion in revenue last year, spurred by the swift and private nature of cryptocurrency gambling.
Stake’s explosive growth was propelled by aggressive marketing strategies. During the pandemic, the company heavily invested in influencer partnerships, compensating Twitch streamers millions to promote their gameplay.
This surge increased revenues from $100 million to over $2 billion in just two years. After Twitch prohibited Stake promotions, Craven and Tehrani initiated their own livestreaming platform, Kick.
In addition to streaming, Stake’s branding has reached broader audiences through collaborations with Formula 1 cars, the English Premier League, and UFC events. These initiatives solidified Stake’s global reputation and Craven’s status as one of the wealthiest young entrepreneurs in the crypto realm.
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2. Vitalik Buterin
Vitalik Buterin, now 31, holds the second spot with a net worth of $1.4 billion, stemming from his foundational role in Ethereum (ETH). As reported by Forbes,
“He became the world’s youngest crypto billionaire at age 27 when Ether, Ethereum’s original cryptocurrency, first reached $3,000 per coin in May 2021.”
At that time, Buterin owned about 333,500 ETH, valued at approximately $1.029 billion. Despite market shifts, Ethereum’s rally has once again elevated the worth of his holdings. In August, BeInCrypto noted that he had reclaimed his title as an ‘on-chain billionaire.’
Additionally, the Ethereum co-founder is recognized for using his wealth for philanthropic endeavors, donating millions to humanitarian initiatives. His contributions include over $1 billion in crypto to India’s Covid-19 relief fund, significant support to Ukrainian charities, and backing for projects aimed at global health.
3. Justin Sun
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Justin Sun ranks third among the youngest crypto billionaires, boasting an estimated $8.5 billion fortune at the age of 35. He launched TRON (TRX) in 2017, now the 11th largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization.
“Justin Sun has constructed a vast crypto empire, anchored by the Tron blockchain, in addition to exchanges Poloniex and HTX, and the peer-to-peer file-sharing platform BitTorrent,” noted Forbes .
While the specific moment he achieved billionaire status is uncertain, Sun has remained a pivotal figure in the cryptocurrency sector. He has also taken precautions to safeguard details of his personal holdings, including legal actions to prevent in-depth disclosures, citing security issues.
“Justin Sun has initiated a lawsuit against Bloomberg, alleging they intend to ‘recklessly and improperly disclos[e] his highly confidential, sensitive, private, and proprietary financial information,’ acquired while trying to verify his assets for the Bloomberg ‘Billionaires Index,’” Molly White tweeted.
Sun is also recognized for his extravagant purchases. In November 2024, he paid $6.2 million for a conceptual art piece—a banana affixed to a wall—and has invested millions in other artworks. His ventures even extend beyond our planet; after bidding $28 million, Sun participated in Blue Origin’s NS-34 mission.
Beyond these leading figures, the ApeX study also highlighted other young crypto moguls, including Alchemy co-founders Joe Lau and Nikil Viswanathan, Coinbase’s Fred Ehrsam and Brian Armstrong, Tether’s Paolo Ardoino, and the Winklevoss twins. The wealthiest overall is Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ), estimated to be worth $33 billion.
Together, this group exemplifies the evolution of cryptocurrency, where early innovators have weathered market fluctuations and scandals to amass fortunes rivaling those of traditional financial dynasties.
