Who do you think should be crowned number 1? | Source: CCN
Share
Key Takeaways
CCN’s Top 101 in Crypto and Blockchain 2026 has reached its halfway point.
Featured names and Crypto Citizens have shared the list across social media.
With the Top 10 and Top 3 still to be announced, anticipation is rising over who will be named 2026’s most influential force in crypto.
The Crypto Citizens Network’s (CCN) Top 101 in Crypto and Blockchain 2026 has reached its halfway mark, with 50 profiles now revealed as the editorial countdown moves closer to the industry’s most anticipated positions.
Launched as an editorial initiative, the Top 101 is designed to spotlight the individuals, projects, and trends shaping the structural future of crypto.
With half the list now live, attention is shifting toward the upper tier, where some of the biggest names are battling it out for the prized top spots.
Try Our Recommended Crypto Exchanges
Sponsored
Disclosure
We sometimes use affiliate links in our content, when clicking on those we might receive a commission at no extra cost to you. By using this website you agree to our terms and conditions and privacy policy.
Rather than publishing the rankings all at once, CCN opted for a serialized format, releasing two profiles per day from No. 101 all the way down to No. 1.
The approach aims to provide context around each selection and celebrate every part of crypto’s vast ecosystem.
The profiles span founders, protocol developers, policymakers, institutional leaders, researchers and emerging trends in crypto.
Categories range from tokenization and decentralized finance to layer-1 infrastructure, regulatory leadership and sustainability initiatives.
Industry Engagement Builds
So far, CCN has revealed 50 of crypto’s most influential projects and people, including Caroline D. Pham, Securitize, Hedera, ZachXBT, and others spanning the crypto universe.
As the rollout has progressed, parts of the industry have already begun to take notice.
Several featured companies and individuals have shared their inclusion across X and other social platforms, extending the initiative beyond Crypto Citizens’ core readership.
As the list moves closer to its highest tiers, the conversation is expected to intensify — both among those featured and Crypto Citizens looking to see where their favorite ranks.
The Road to the Top 3
With 50 profiles now live, the countdown enters its most closely watched phase.
“We’re halfway through, and the momentum is only building. The race to the top of CCN’s Top 101 is about to get very interesting,” said Ryan James Boltman, managing editor at CCN.
CCN’s Top 101 has entered its second half. | Source: X (@CCNDotComNews)
While each entry on the list represents a significant contribution to the crypto sector, the final three positions carry particular weight.
The Top 3 will effectively crown the individuals or projects judged to have had the most far-reaching influence on the industry.
Strictly Independent
CCN has emphasized that the Top 101 remains an entirely independent editorial project, with no sponsorships, paid placements, or partnerships influencing the selections.
The judging panel — composed of professionals across technology, finance, and policy — has contributed to ensuring commitment to global representation.
The panel includes:
Anurag Arjun (Avail, former Polygon)
Nichols Anthony (Cato Institute)
Frank Holmes (HIVE Digital Technologies)
Joshua Ashley Klayman Kuzar (Linklaters)
Dr. Lisa Cameron (Digital Assets Global Forum)
In addition to the judges, community voting was open for more than one month, allowing broad participation from readers and industry observers.
Looking Ahead to 2027
Even as the 2026 edition approaches its most competitive tier, planning is already underway for CCN’s Top 101 in Crypto and Blockchain 2027.
The next edition is expected to build on the celebratory framework established this year, while also including new emerging sectors and technological breakthroughs.
Please continue to watch for updates as the serialized rollout continues daily on CCN.com and across its social channels.
Kurt Robson is a London-based reporter at CCN, specialising in the fast-moving worlds of crypto and emerging technology. He began his career covering local news in Cornwall after graduating from Falmouth University with First Class Honours in Journalism. There, he cut his teeth on everything from council meetings to missing swans.
He quickly rose through the ranks to become a frontline journalist at several of the UK’s leading national newspapers. Over the years, he has interviewed musicians and celebrities, reported from courtrooms and crime scenes, and secured multiple front-page exclusives.
Following the upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kurt shifted his focus to technology journalism—just ahead of the AI boom. With a natural curiosity and a trained eye for emerging trends, he has found a new rhythm in reporting on innovation.
At CCN, Kurt's work focuses on the cutting edge of crypto, blockchain, AI, and the evolving digital world. Drawing on his background in people-first reporting and his deep interest in disruptive tech, Kurt delivers stories that are insightful, entertaining, and human-centric.
