Ukraine has long been recognized as one of the global leaders in cryptocurrency adoption. According to Chainalysis, Ukraine consistently ranks among the top countries in terms of grassroots crypto usage.
Additionally, some reports suggest that the country holds one of the largest government-owned reserves of Bitcoin (BTC) globally. This leadership is bolstered not only by adoption but by the exceptional talent of Ukrainian engineers and entrepreneurs, many of whom play pivotal roles in Web3 development.
While a large portion of Ukrainian talent contributes as developers and core contributors, a select group of visionaries has founded some of the most impactful projects in the blockchain space. Here are the five most influential Ukrainian crypto founders who have left a global mark on the industry:
1. Anatoly Yakovenko – Co-founder and CEO of Solana
Born in Ukraine and immigrated to the United States, Anatoly Yakovenko is one of the most prominent figures in the blockchain world. As the co-founder of Solana (SOL), he introduced one of the fastest and most scalable Layer 1 blockchains.
To date, Solana has raised over $335 million from leading venture capital firms and consistently ranks among the top 5 most-used blockchains globally. Its vibrant developer ecosystem and powerful community have made it a cornerstone of modern Web3 infrastructure.
2. Illia Polosukhin – Co-founder and CEO of NEAR Protocol
Also born in Ukraine and immigrated to the United States, Illia Polosukhin is the visionary behind NEAR Protocol, a high-performance blockchain designed for decentralized applications (dApps).
As of publication, NEAR has secured over $500 million in funding and has become one of the most developer-friendly platforms in the space. Known for its focus on usability, scalability, and sustainability, NEAR consistently ranks among the top 30 crypto projects by market capitalization.
3. Yaroslav Ivanov – Co-founder and CVO of ALTA – Blockchain Labs
Born in Ukraine, Yaroslav Ivanov is a co-founder and Chief Visionary Officer of ALTA – Blockchain Labs, a global consulting firm and blockchain accelerator operating in the fields of Web3, tokenization, and decentralized technologies.
Since 2015, the company has focused on providing strategic management and consulting. Under his leadership, ALTA – Blockchain Labs has been included in industry lists of top blockchain accelerators and startup initiatives. Collaboration with leading crypto exchanges has enabled the firm to oversee localization, go-to-market strategies, and infrastructure integration for projects in over 14 countries, taking into account regulatory requirements worldwide.
Ivanov is also known for his early advocacy of Web3 education and for developing the blockchain project evaluation model (BPEM). His work covers topics such as tokenization of funds and the integration of digital assets into traditional finance, which have been discussed at major industry events and referenced in expert publications. He leverages his expertise to support companies from inception to global expansion within the competitive global blockchain ecosystem
4. Viktor Radchenko – Founder of Trust Wallet
Born in Ukraine and immigrated to the United States, Viktor Radchenko founded Trust Wallet, one of the most widely used non-custodial crypto wallets in the world. The wallet gained widespread popularity due to its open-source ethos and robust functionality.
In 2018, Binance acquired Trust Wallet, with the deal reportedly valued at $10–15 million, according to industry insiders. Today, Trust Wallet ranks among the top 5 most downloaded crypto wallets globally, enabling millions to securely manage their digital assets.
5. Alex Gluchowski – Co-founder and CEO of zkSync / Matter Labs
Born in Ukraine and immigrated to the Germany, Alex Gluchowski is the co-founder of zkSync, one of the leading Layer 2 solutions for Ethereum (ETH) scalability. Developed by Matter Labs, zkSync leverages zero-knowledge proofs to offer secure and cost-efficient transactions.
The project has raised $458 million in total funding, with backing from major Web3 investors. zkSync stands at the forefront of the Layer 2 movement, accelerating Ethereum’s transition into a scalable and inclusive global platform.
Ukrainian blockchain impact
Ukraine has become a rising force in the blockchain space, known for its deep pool of talent and forward-thinking innovation. Founders and experts from the region are instrumental in driving major crypto projects and advancing decentralized technologies that are shaping the global blockchain landscape.
As the crypto industry continues to evolve, Ukrainian innovators are poised to remain influential in driving its future growth and transformation.
Featured images via Flickr (CC0 1.0 Universal).
