Catenaa, Monday, January 05, 2026-Several leading cryptocurrency executives lost billions in personal wealth in 2025 after a sharp market reversal in October erased gains built earlier in the year, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
Michael Saylor, executive chairman of Strategy, recorded one of the steepest declines.
Bloomberg data shows Saylor lost about $2.6 billion over the past 12 months, cutting his net worth to roughly $3.8 billion. The losses followed an October flash crash that sent Bitcoin and crypto-linked equities sharply lower after months of strong performance.
Strategy’s aggressive Bitcoin treasury approach had driven major gains through early October, when Bitcoin reached new highs. That rally quickly reversed. Bitcoin prices slid, Strategy shares fell more than 50%, and nearly $6 billion was wiped from Saylor’s peak net worth.
Other prominent figures were also affected. Changpeng Zhao, founder of Binance, saw his fortune decline about 5% since the start of the year, leaving his net worth near $50.9 billion, Bloomberg reported.
Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss faced deeper losses, with their combined wealth dropping about 59% as crypto prices fell and trading volumes cooled.
The downturn contrasted with broader wealth trends. Bloomberg said eight individuals accounted for about one quarter of the $2.2 trillion in total billionaire gains in 2025, highlighting uneven results across sectors.
Some crypto executives posted gains. Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire increased his net worth sharply, helped by demand for dollar-backed stablecoins and new US legislation creating a federal framework for payment stablecoins.
Corporate interest in Bitcoin treasuries continued despite volatility. Data from Bitcointreasuries.net shows 192 public companies now hold Bitcoin, up sharply from a year earlier.
Bitcoin remains under pressure, down about 7% in 2025 after peaking above $126,000 in October and falling toward $80,000 by late November.
