Yi He, co-founder and co-CEO of Binance, has been recognized by Fortune magazine as one of the most powerful women in business. The profile, which labeled her “the most powerful woman in crypto,” adds to a growing list of accolades for someone who has steadily moved from behind-the-scenes operator to the public face of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange.

She holds approximately a 10% equity stake in Binance, giving her significant influence over the strategic direction of an exchange that dominates global crypto trading volumes.

From customer service chief to co-CEO

Yi He’s formal elevation to co-CEO came on December 3, 2025, during Binance Blockchain Week in Dubai. She now shares the top role alongside Richard Teng, who stepped in as CEO after Changpeng Zhao resigned in 2023 amid legal challenges with US regulators.

Before the promotion, her official title was Chief Customer Service Officer. Bloomberg recognized her as “crypto’s most powerful woman” back in 2023. The Wall Street Journal went with “the crypto queen.” She also appeared on CoinDesk’s 2025 “Top 50 Women in Web3 and AI” list. Fortune’s recognition is the latest in a pattern that has been building for years.

It’s worth noting that Yi He’s increased visibility hasn’t come without downsides. In December 2025, her WeChat account was hacked, and attackers used it to run a scam that netted roughly $55K.

The post-CZ era at Binance

When CZ stepped down in late 2023 as part of a settlement with US authorities, Binance needed continuity. Richard Teng, a former Abu Dhabi regulator, was the externally facing choice designed to signal compliance and institutional credibility. Yi He represented institutional memory, having co-founded the exchange. Her promotion to co-CEO formalized a dual-leadership structure, with Teng handling the regulatory narrative and Yi He maintaining operational grip.

What this means for investors

Fortune’s recognition of Yi He is fundamentally a soft-power event. It doesn’t change Binance’s balance sheet, its regulatory status, or the price of BNB. There was no significant market reaction to either the Fortune profile or Yi He’s co-CEO appointment.

The dual-CEO structure with Yi He and Richard Teng creates an interesting dynamic. Teng brings regulatory credibility. Yi He brings operational depth and founder equity. Co-CEO arrangements have a mixed track record in traditional business, with notable failures at companies like SAP and Deutsche Bank.