Darius Baruo
May 27, 2026 18:49
Binance Co-CEO Yi He becomes the first crypto-native leader on Fortune’s Most Powerful Women list, signaling her impact on the industry’s evolution.
Yi He, Binance’s Co-Chief Executive Officer, has been named to Fortune’s 2026 Most Powerful Women in Business list, becoming the first crypto-native executive to achieve this recognition. The announcement on May 27 underscores Yi’s growing influence in both the cryptocurrency sector and broader business world.
Yi’s journey is a case study in transformative leadership. Born in Sichuan, China, the 37-year-old co-founded Binance alongside Changpeng Zhao (CZ) in 2017, shepherding the company’s rise to become the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume. Starting as Chief Marketing Officer, she led Binance’s global user acquisition strategy during its early years of rapid growth. In 2022, she took on an additional role as Head of Binance Labs, steering its venture arm into high-growth areas like Web3, artificial intelligence, and biotechnology. In December 2025, Yi was appointed Co-CEO, sharing leadership responsibilities with Richard Teng after CZ stepped down in the wake of U.S. regulatory pressures.
Her recognition on the Fortune list coincides with a pivotal period for Binance. The company has been navigating increased regulatory scrutiny worldwide while attempting to maintain its dominance in the crypto and blockchain sectors. Yi’s leadership has been instrumental in expanding Binance’s ecosystem, particularly through the rebranding of Binance Labs to YZi Labs in January 2025, signaling a broader focus on emerging technologies. Under her tenure, YZi Labs has invested heavily in projects that intersect Web3 with AI and biotech, positioning Binance as more than just an exchange but a cornerstone of the evolving Web3 economy.
Yi’s strategic vision is also evident in Binance’s flagship token, BNB. Launched in 2017 as a utility token, BNB has grown into a versatile asset used for trading discounts, transaction fees on the BNB Chain, and ecosystem rewards. Its price doubled in 2024, from $313 at the start of the year to $640 by March 2025, driven by increased utility and innovative programs like Launchpool and airdrops. These initiatives allowed BNB holders to earn significant returns by staking or simply holding the token, with combined returns reportedly reaching 177% over 15 months.
Yi’s ability to integrate cutting-edge technology with user-focused strategies has set her apart in an industry often criticized for prioritizing speculative gains over utility. Her leadership style, blending long-term vision with operational precision, reflects Binance’s broader ambition to remain a leader in the crypto space while diversifying into adjacent industries.
As regulatory challenges mount and competition intensifies, Yi He’s place on the Fortune list is not just a personal milestone but also a recognition of the strategic importance of cryptocurrency leaders in the broader business ecosystem. For Binance, it’s a signal that the company remains in capable hands as it continues to innovate and expand its footprint across finance, technology, and beyond.
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