Key Takeaways
- Billions of dollars move every single day based on what these crypto influencers say.
- All it takes is one video, an analysis, and a mention of the asset and retail suddenly flocks in.
- Crypto influencers are usually called Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) with large followings on social media who are often invited to collaborate to promote a project or a product.
If you lived through crypto back in 2017, you would see a lot of videos saying “this crypto will 1000x your portfolio” and so on. It was full of hopium back then.
However as time passed by, retail investors started to become more educated and looked back on their mistakes following KOLs who casually upload crypto videos with no substance whatsoever.
While I do think there are still some bad influencers (I call them shillers) lingering around in 2026, it won’t be long before they are taken out of the algorithm unless they really provide value for their audiences.
We will be covering the ones that we think will help you on your journey in the crypto space.
Top crypto influencers at a glance
| Name of the influencer | Platform | Followers | Focus | Active Since |
| Changpeng Zhao (CZ) | X | 12.9 million | Web3 industry developments | 2017 |
| Watcher Guru | X | 4.9 million | Real-time crypto news alerts | 2021 |
| BRICS News | X | 2.1 million | Real-time geopolitics news | 2021 |
| Wu Blockchain | X | 558.1 thousand | Real-time crypto news in Asian timeframe | 2019 |
| ZachXBT | X | 1.1 million | On-chain investigations | 2021 |
| Onchain Lens | X | 45.9 thousand | Onchain data analytics | 2024 |
| Lookonchain | X | 710.6 thousand | Onchain data analytics | 2021 |
| Thinking Crypto | YouTube | 199 thousand | Daily crypto news and exclusive interviews | 2017 |
| Benjamin Cowen | YouTube | 1.02 million | Data-driven macro and crypto analysis | 2019 |
| Altcoin Daily | YouTube | 1.66 million | Daily crypto news | 2018 |
| CryptoWendyO | YouTube | 272 thousand | Turning complicated information into simple concepts | 2018 |
| CryptoRyan17 | YouTube | 2.5 thousand | Technical analysis | 2020 |
| Discover Crypto | YouTube | 1.38 million | Podcast-style crypto news | 2018 |
| Coin Bureau | YouTube | 2.73 million | High-quality production crypto news | 2019 |
| Virtual Bacon | Instagram / TikTok | 142 thousand | Crypto education | 2019 |
| Girl Gone Crypto | Instagram / TikTok | 38.8 thousand | Turning complicated information into simple concepts | 2019 |
| Davinci Jeremie | Instagram / TikTok | 491 thousand | Bitcoin | 2013 |
| MMCrypto | Instagram / TikTok | 191 thousand | Trading analysis | 2017 |
| Anthony Pompliano | Instagram / TikTok | 154 thousand | Bitcoin as a store of value | 2017 |
How we chose them
In determining why this particular KOL deserves a spot on our list of top influencers for 2026, I mainly look at his/her previous content, how much value he/she gives to his/her audience, and if that KOL is a trader, would he/she admit that he/she is wrong instead of gaslighting the audience that he/she was right all along.
As someone who’s been in the crypto space since late 2017, I can smell BS far away, and I believe it is worth calling them out to keep the crypto community safe.
Now don’t get me wrong, it is okay to have collaborations with other projects because that is one part of the KOL’s income, but the moment you try to take advantage of your followers for quick, easy gains is something I cannot stomach on.
Now without further ado, I will now be laying out the best influencers to follow on X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.
Best crypto influencers on X
This list contains the most vocal voices on X. Let’s optimize your Crypto Twitter profile by following these accounts.
Changpeng Zhao (@cz_binance)
Changpeng Zhao (CZ) is an entrepreneur and the founder of Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange by trading volume. He no longer serves as CEO but still holds a large equity stake in the company. If you hold the BNB token, then definitely give him a follow! CZ continues to be a noticeable figure advocating for crypto adoption.
Watcher Guru (@WatcherGuru)
You are not serious about getting into crypto if you have not followed Watcher Guru yet. It’s a must-have in order to get caught up with the latest developments in the space.
BRICS News (@BRICSinfo)
As crypto exchanges are adding traditional assets (forex, precious metals, commodities, oil) to their platforms, following geopolitical news is now part of every crypto enthusiast’s daily routine.
Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain)
Between Wu Blockchain and Watcher Guru, the former gives you a summary in an understandable format, while the latter provides only headline-style posts. Overall, still follow them both because both accounts publish unique content.
ZachXBT (@zachxbt)
As a victim of crypto fraud himself, he turned to blockchain’s transparency and his pattern-recognition skills to track down Ponzi schemes, phishing schemes, pump-and-dumps and rug pulls. So if you’re interested in blockchain investigations and how he gathers intel, do give him a follow.
Onchain Lens (@OnchainLens)
If you are into someone who likes to track whale activity in real time, then Onchain Lens is next account you should follow. The page posts regularly to help followers understand how onchain wallets move funds and improve their decisions.
Lookonchain (@lookonchain)
Adding another analytics platform here for variety. Between Onchain Lens and Lookonchain, Onchain Lens posts more regularly, but most of their content is unique, so I still recommend following both pages.
Best crypto YouTubers
Do note that some of these influencers may have other followings on other platforms like X, but YouTube is where their following is the most influential.
Tony Edward or Thinking Crypto
Since 2017, I have been following the Thinking Crypto for his daily news updates. Here’s a fun fact, I actually discovered Brave Browser at that time because he was talking about it, and I have been using it for nine years now. He also conducts regular interviews with the biggest names in the space, getting insights you won’t get from other crypto YouTube channels.
Benjamin Cowen
Make sure not to skip Ben on this list because he understands more on what is happening to the economy and how it affects the market. This guy is a mathematician with a PhD in Nuclear Engineering.
Recently, he got dunked on in Crypto Twitter because his analysis failed. He acknowledges that he is wrong and goes back to where he is incorrect at. But more often than not, nine times out of ten, his analyses are usually correct.
Altcoin Daily
Altcoin Daily usually covers everything that happened in the crypto space that day in a bite-sized format (around 15-20 minutes) and occasionally conducts hour-long interviews. Another crypto news channel to add to your watch list for the day.
CryptoWendyO
CryptoWendyO usually discusses the crypto market as a whole, talks about crypto news and does technical analysis on her YouTube channel called The O Show.
Her short videos are somewhat more valuable in my opinion, as she does not just report what the news is about but explains it in simple details how it affects you and the industry as a whole. Make sure to support the female KOLs in the space as well!
CryptoRyan17
Crypto Ryan shares his views on the crypto market as a whole on YouTube and X. But if you want more of his premium analysis of the markets going into next year, he has a paid Patreon and Substack page that you can subscribe to.
Discover Crypto
Discover Crypto was originally known as BitBoy Crypto back then, but was rebranded as Discover Crypto in 2023 after CEO of Hit Network TJ Shedd fired Ben Armstrong due to substance abuse, workplace misconduct and financial misuse. They have tweaked some of how they produce their content, but the live podcast-style production lives on.
Coin Bureau
Every video that Coin Bureau publishes is created with high-quality production and is well produced. While I do appreciate that their videos are around 20-30 minutes long, it’s kinda too long for me since I’m kinda a go-to guy. But if you’re fine with that length, then do give it a follow.
Best crypto creators on Instagram and TikTok
If your main platform for gathering crypto content is Instagram or TikTok, you’re in luck, ‘cause KOLs are on this platform too, just as many as on X.
Dennis Liu or VirtualBacon (@virtualbacon0x)
Virtual Bacon’s content has drastically changed since the last time I watched one of his videos. Before, it was all about onboarding retail investors and was centered more on tutorials and the fundamentals.
Realizing that people have already matured, there is no need for him to create more of those topics. He has upped his content through technical analysis and casually interacting with his followers for 1.5 hours.
Girl Gone Crypto (@girl_gone_crypto)
If you are too busy to keep up with crypto, Girl Gone Crypto might help you with that. She usually compiles the hottest news in the industry within 60 seconds called Crypto Minute.
Davinci Jeremie (@davincij15)
Davinci Jeremie is the guy who told everyone in 2013 to buy Bitcoin. Now he enjoys himself on a yacht in Dubai, still creating videos about Bitcoin. So if you want a bit of entertainment, Davinci is your guy.
Christopher Jaszczynski or MMCrypto (@chrismmcrypto)
Christopher Jaszczynski is a German trader who usually trades in high volume, around millions of dollars. To be honest, this guy is kinda a hit or miss because sometimes he posts a video then goes off for a few days leaving followers in the dark on his trade, and by the time he publishes a new video, it’s a new setup. But that’s just me.
Anthony Pompliano (@pompglobal)
If you really want a podcast not just about crypto but topics like macroeconomics, finance, and tech, then make sure to follow Anthony Pompliano. His podcasts are usually an hour long, but lots of lessons can be acquired from them.
How to spot paid shills and pump-and-dump accounts
One thing to check to see if an influencer is a paid shill is through their behavior. Ask yourself this question, “Why does this influencer keep talking about the same project?” Is it because he/she really loves what the project is doing, or because he/she was being paid to promote it? Always take note that there is a fine line between liking something and overpromoting it. And of course, if that influencer doesn’t disclose that he/she is in a collab with the project but keeps talking about it, then it’s obviously a paid shill.
For trader KOLs on the other hand, look at their previous content, would that trader admit his analysis was wrong and reflect, or would he gaslight you into saying he/she was right all along just to save face. If you are into trading, I suggest you stay away from them, as they can mess with your trading psyche. No trader is perfect and not everyone can get it right since no one has a crystal ball. Show me any trader who was never wrong in his/her calls and I can guarantee you that he/she is not a real trader.
Overall, it really is just instinct; if you have a gut feeling about this influencer being a paid shill or a pump-and-dump account that does not give value, then don’t hesitate to click that unfollow button because they definitely deserve it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Need more clarification about crypto influencers in the Web3 space? Check out the most frequently asked questions below.
Who is the most-followed crypto influencer?
The most-followed crypto influencer is Binance founder and former CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ), with a total of 12.9 million followers on X.
Should you trade on influencer calls?
Absolutely not. Many people have been wrecked because they followed an influencer to buy this and that not knowing there were exit liquidity all along. Always do your own research, and trade only based on your analysis and not someone else’s. There’s nothing wrong with checking other people’s trade ideas, but you have to double-check for confluences before risking a trade.
