Yi He, co-CEO of Binance, has been named to Fortune's Most Powerful Women list — the first crypto-native leader to make the cut. The annual ranking, released by Fortune magazine, spotlights top female executives across global industries. Her inclusion marks a milestone for a sector that has long fought for mainstream business recognition.
Fortune's Most Powerful Women
Fortune's list has historically been dominated by leaders from traditional finance, big tech, and consumer goods — think PepsiCo, General Motors, and JPMorgan Chase. Yi He's name now sits alongside them, a signal that the crypto industry is producing executives who are being judged by the same metrics as their conventional peers. The magazine compiles its ranking based on factors including revenue, influence, and the scope of each leader's business impact.
A crypto-native path
Yi He’s career was built entirely inside the crypto ecosystem. She joined Binance in its early days and rose to co-CEO, overseeing the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange. That trajectory sets her apart from other crypto leaders who came from Wall Street or Silicon Valley. Her recognition as a Most Powerful Woman underscores that the industry can now produce homegrown leaders capable of running a global operation with tens of millions of users.
What this means for Binance
For Binance, the nod carries weight beyond the individual honor. The exchange has faced regulatory scrutiny across multiple jurisdictions in recent years. Having its co-CEO appear on a prestigious mainstream business list adds a layer of institutional credibility. It also puts a face — a woman in a top leadership role — on a company that often makes headlines for legal battles rather than executive accolades.
The full Fortune Most Powerful Women list will be published in the magazine’s upcoming issue. Yi He's inclusion opens the door for more crypto-native leaders to be measured against the same yardstick. Whether others follow will depend on how the industry continues to professionalize and scale.
