Leadership is an essential component for every web3 project that founders must establish from the start. Their commitment, along with their community relationship, are paramount for success because it is ultimately the investor who is responsible for providing liquidity and using the products created. So, in light of Do Kwon’s failures at TerraLuna and Zagabond’s admissions of past rug pulls to the Azuki community, let's take some time to examine some of the best founders in the crypto space. 

Brian Armstrong

As the founder and CEO of Coinbase, Brain Armstrong leads the gateway for many users into the crypto space. Coinbase is one of the largest exchanges for cryptocurrencies available online and has seen its exposure grow through various sponsorships and investments. What stands out most about Armstrong is his commitment to play by the rules and follow IRS & legal guidelines to operate an exchange that is highly credible. The most recent example of this was when Coinbase released their tax documents to include a section about assets during insolvency. Many quickly assumed that Coinbase was headed for bankruptcy, but Brian Armstrong promptly acknowledged that the statement was simply added for legal reasons and not as a sign of the company's future. This awareness of the community followed with an informative response is an example of leadership that needs to be replicated. 

NFTLlama

NFTLlama (Llama) is a well-known and respected founder in the NFT community who is responsible for LlamaLabs and the Llamaverse NFT collection. His role as a leading founder is one that has an impact beyond just his own projects. He is an active community member and someone that openly supports a variety of NFT projects that are run by other teams. He is respectful, engaging, and humorous which has led him to establishing noticeable respect and regard in the crypto space for his constant support of the entire ecosystem. Due to his activity, the Llamaverse collection has created a significant amount of value for holders and traders alike, leading him to become an active adviser for other projects and collections.

Vitalik Buterin

Vitalik Buterin, the founder of Ethereum, is one of the most knowledgeable founders that exist. Beginning in the early days of bitcoin, Buterin focused on improving his understanding of blockchain technologies, writing articles, and developing new protocols. Ultimately, his efforts led to the Ethereum network which has become the most popular network by far after bitcoin with its NFT and DeFi applications. Buterin’s role as a founder is one that encapsulates the goals of cryptocurrency in general. He has a strong conviction for community involvement and decentralization. He is also an active writer posting content regularly on Twitter and the Ethereum subreddit where he discusses his thoughts and opinions on all matters related to blockchain. The man is incredibly intelligent and one that future founders should look up. 

Changpeng Zhao

Changpeng Zhao, known as CZ, is the founder of Binance––the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange––which also operates the Binance Smart Chain. He is a notable figure in the crypto industry and one of the richest men alive with a crypto portfolio worth billions. While his business has had a few issues with the American legal system, his presence in crypto cannot be overstated enough. He is a man that takes his business seriously and, during the TerraLuna collapse, has advocated for the countless investors who lost their entire portfolios, calling for solutions that protect and “compensate the retail users first.”

Satoshi Nakamoto  

Although we don’t truly know who Satoshi is, he cannot be left off a list that includes the most notable founders in the crypto industry because he is responsible for the creation of bitcoin which has revolutionized the relationship between the internet and money. However, there is more to his story than just being the catalyst for web3. The very fact that Satoshi was able to create and begin such an impactful product like bitcoin without ever revealing his identity is mind-boggling. By remaining anonymous, after so much has occurred because of bitcoin, shows his commitment to a truly decentralized system where he is no longer in control. With the decision to make the bitcoin protocol open-source, he openly gave bitcoin to the masses with the keys to run it after his disappearance in 2010. 

Like the captain of a ship, the founder is the one who leads the way forward and is held to the highest standards of a project. They are the people who are ultimately responsible; and while it may be easy to bask in the gains of success when/if a project crashes they are the one who everyone looks to for repair. The biggest projects tend to have the most successful founders and when their commitment is at 100% their team follows. When looking at new projects to invest in, always ask yourself whether the founder respects their own community and understands the technology.