Recurring figures on the list include Andre Cronje, Andreas Antonopoulos, Brian Armstrong, Changpeng Zhao, Cynthia Lummis, Do Kwon, Gary Gensler, Gavin Andresen, Jack Dorsey, Jeremy Allaire, Jerome Powell, Pieter Wuille, and Sam Bankman-Fried.
Recently, an open question on the likelihood of Buterin being on the 2023 list sparked controversy when Charles Hoskinson commented that making the influential list comes with an 18 percent chance of a prison sentence. Hoskinson pointed to legal issues faced by figures like Changpeng Zhao and the arrest of FTX's former CEO, Bankman-Fried, emphasizing a correlation with their appearances on the list.
Members of the crypto community suggested Hoskinson's remarks may stem from envy, questioning Cardano's contributions and perceiving bias from CoinDesk. Some argued that Hoskinson might be overlooking Buterin's achievements, highlighting tensions between Hoskinson and the Ethereum community from years past. The debate underscores the complex relationship between crypto figures, industry recognition, and legal challenges.