The Top Heroes of the Crypto Industry In 2022
Changpeng Zhao (CZ) - CEO of Binance
In a year when some of the biggest players in crypto struggled, Changpeng Zhao managed to keep his Binance exchange strong, even contributing to the collapse of its closest rival, FTX. Despite regulatory pressure from governments around the world, CZ has yet to make any major layoffs and plans to hire more people in the near future. He has also gained a large following on Twitter, with over 8 million followers, and recently announced a $500 million investment in the platform.
Brian Armstrong - CEO of Coinbase
Despite facing some challenges, including layoffs and a drop in stock price, Brian Armstrong has remained a vocal advocate for decentralization and transparency in the crypto industry. He has criticized the US Securities and Exchange Commission and its chairman, Gary Gensler, for stifling innovation with excessive reporting requirements. Armstrong also pledged to fund a lawsuit against the US Department of Treasury's sanctions on the smart contract addresses of Tornado Cash. He made it clear that Coinbase values decentralization over censorship when he announced that the company would rather halt its Ether staking services than censor-sanctioned Ethereum transactions.
Senators Cynthia Lummis and Kirsten Gillibrand
While many lawmakers remain unaware or indifferent towards the crypto market, Senators Cynthia Lummis and Kirsten Gillibrand have taken the time to understand its financial and social potential. They introduced the Lummis-Gillibrand Responsible Financial Innovation Act, which proposes a framework for the governance of digital currencies. The bill separates cryptocurrencies into three categories: commodities, securities, and ancillary assets, and assigns regulatory responsibility to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission for commodities, the SEC for securities, and the SEC for ancillary assets.
Representative Tom Emmer
Representative Tom Emmer has also been a strong supporter of the crypto industry in 2022. He criticized SEC Chair Gary Gensler's oversight strategy as "indiscriminate and inconsistent." He revealed that he had been approached by hundreds of industry participants seeking guidance on how to navigate the complex regulatory environment. Emmer has consistently advocated for a light-touch regulatory approach and has co-sponsored several bills that would provide clarity and certainty for the industry.
The Most Infamous Villains of the Crypto Industry In 2022
Elon Musk
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has had a significant impact on the crypto market through his tweets and actions. In early 2021, he announced that Tesla had bought $1.5 billion worth of Bitcoin and would accept the cryptocurrency as payment for its electric vehicles. This caused a surge in the price of Bitcoin and sparked a wave of mainstream interest in crypto. However, later in the year, Musk reversed course and announced that Tesla would no longer accept Bitcoin as payment, citing concerns about the environmental impact of Bitcoin mining. This sudden change in stance caused a significant drop in the price of Bitcoin and led to accusations that Musk was manipulating the market.
Gary Gensler - Chairman of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
As the head of the SEC, Gary Gensler has the power to shape the regulatory landscape for the crypto industry. Some in the industry have criticized his approach as overly burdensome, claiming that it stifles innovation and hinders the industry's growth. Gensler has been particularly focused on ensuring that digital asset projects follow securities laws and has pursued enforcement actions against several projects that he believes have violated these laws.
Jay Clayton - Former Chairman of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
During his tenure as Chairman of the SEC, Jay Clayton took a strict stance on regulating digital assets and was seen as hostile towards the crypto industry. He consistently emphasized that digital asset projects, including initial coin offerings (ICOs), should follow securities laws and pursued enforcement actions against several projects that he believed were violating these laws. Clayton's strict approach was a hindrance to the industry's growth and contributed to the overall regulatory uncertainty.
Craig Wright
Australian entrepreneur Craig Wright has claimed to be the creator of Bitcoin, using the pseudonym "Satoshi Nakamoto." However, many in the crypto community have disputed his claims and have accused him of attempting to claim credit for the creation of Bitcoin fraudulently. Wright has also been involved in several legal disputes related to his claims, including a case in which he was ordered to pay $5 billion in damages for failing to transfer Bitcoin to the estate of his deceased business partner. His actions have caused controversy and damage to the reputation of the crypto industry.
PlusToken Scammers
The PlusToken Ponzi scheme, which promised high returns to investors through a cryptocurrency wallet app, was one of the largest scams in the crypto industry. The scheme, which operated in China, South Korea, and other countries, defrauded thousands of investors out of millions of dollars. The scammers behind the scheme fled with the funds and were eventually arrested by Chinese authorities. The fallout from the PlusToken scam has damaged the reputation of the crypto industry and highlights the importance of caution and due diligence when investing in digital assets.
The Impact of the Macroeconomic Environment on the Crypto Market
The crypto market has had a tumultuous year in 2022, with a total valuation of $3 trillion during the bull market of 2021, followed by a significant drop to around $810 billion. While the market's performance can partly be attributed to external factors such as rising inflation rates and the Ukraine-Russia conflict, the recent spate of insolvencies has also played a role. The macroeconomic environment has had a significant impact on the market and has contributed to the volatility and uncertainty that has characterized the industry in 2022.
