Yi He Becomes First Crypto Executive on Fortune’s Most Powerful Women List in 2026

Binance co-CEO Yi He has made history by becoming the first crypto-native executive featured on Fortune’s 2026 Most Powerful Women in Business list. Ranked at No. 64, her inclusion places the Binance leader alongside top executives from global finance, retail, and major technology companies.

The recognition comes several months after Binance officially promoted Yi He to co-CEO in December 2025. While Richard Teng oversees regulatory and compliance matters, Yi He continues to focus on growth, operations, branding, and strategic expansion.

Yi He’s journey into cryptocurrency began in 2014 after leaving a career in Chinese television. She joined OKCoin, now known as OKX, as a marketing executive, where she recruited Changpeng Zhao (CZ) to become the company’s chief technology officer. The two later co-founded Binance during the 2017 ICO boom, helping build the exchange into the world’s largest crypto trading platform.

Born in rural Sichuan in 1986, Yi He grew up without reliable electricity or running water. After losing her father at a young age, she worked several jobs before entering media and later transitioning into crypto. She also reportedly taught herself English to help Binance expand internationally.

According to reports, Yi He controls roughly 10% of Binance through a holding company, making her one of the wealthiest women in the cryptocurrency industry. Beyond Binance, she also leads YZi Labs, formerly Binance Labs, which invests in Web3, artificial intelligence, biotech, and emerging technologies. The investment firm reportedly manages more than $10 billion in assets across hundreds of portfolio companies.

Yi He is also known for Binance’s customer-first culture. New employees are reportedly required to handle customer support tickets regardless of their position. She remains active on social media platforms including X, Telegram, and WeChat, often responding directly to users and scam reports.

Her rise to co-CEO followed Binance’s major legal challenges tied to CZ’s 2023 guilty plea and the company’s $4.3 billion settlement with U.S. regulators. Despite the controversy, Yi He said the Fortune recognition represents a milestone for the entire crypto industry rather than personal success alone.