[DigitalToday reporter Jinju Hong] Binance co-founder Yi He has become the first executive from the cryptocurrency industry to be included on Fortune magazine's list of the "Most Powerful Women in Business".

BeInCrypto, a blockchain outlet, reported on May 27 local time that Yi ranked 64th in Fortune's 2026 list.

The selection has drawn attention because it is the first time a figure from the cryptocurrency industry has been included on the same list as executives from finance, distribution and Fortune 500 technology companies. Yi entered the Fortune ranking for the first time just months after her formal promotion to Binance co-CEO in December 2025.

The most notable point in Yi's career differs from Binance's founding narrative. She moved from China's television industry to crypto in 2014 and worked as marketing chief at OKCoin, now OKX. In the process, she recruited then little-known engineer Changpeng Zhao (CZ) as chief technology officer, and the two later co-founded Binance in 2017. In Binance's early days, Yi was responsible for marketing, branding and expanding global users, while Changpeng Zhao oversaw the technical organization.

Yi has also pushed a strong user-centric approach in Binance's internal operations. New hires were required to go through customer support work regardless of rank, and Yi herself has emphasized the role of being responsible for customer responses. She said through social media, "Still the same Chief Customer Service Officer, at your service. I will keep up the hard work." Direct communication with users and responding to fraud reports were also introduced as her role.

Her personal background was also highlighted. Yi was born in 1986 in rural Sichuan province in China and grew up without stable electricity and running water. She lost her father at age 9 and worked in beverage promotions at 16, later working as a travel program host before teaching herself English in her 30s to support Binance's global expansion. According to content cited by Fortune, Yi is known to hold about a 10 percent stake in Binance through a holding company.

Yi's influence has also expanded beyond the exchange. She has led YZi Labs, renamed from Binance Labs, since January 2025. The investment organization has expanded its investment scope beyond Web3 to artificial intelligence and biotech. Assets under management were reported at more than $10 billion, with an investment portfolio of more than 300 companies. This structure shows Yi has a separate base of influence beyond managing the exchange.

Her promotion to co-CEO also came amid Binance's response to legal risks. Yi had long served as an operations chief who did not step to the forefront, but in December 2025 she became co-CEO with Richard Teng. Richard Teng is responsible for compliance and regulatory responses. Yi's promotion came after Changpeng Zhao's 2023 guilty plea and a $4.3 billion U.S. settlement. The case was then assessed as the biggest crisis that could shake Binance's future structure.

Yi emphasized that her Fortune selection was an industry milestone rather than a personal achievement. "I am very humbled to be recognized as the first executive from crypto on the Fortune list," she said, adding, "The journey of building Binance from the very beginning has been a very personal moment for me." She added, "This recognition carries my name, but it belongs to the Binance team and users, Satoshi Nakamoto, and every crypto community that has contributed to turning this industry into a global movement."

The ranking was recorded as an example showing whether institutional evaluation of executives in the cryptocurrency industry could broaden, alongside Yi's rise. How Binance manages the next phase of regulatory responses is expected to affect Yi's standing and further evaluation of the industry.

Still the same Chief Customer Service Officer, at your service. I will keep up the hard work! Thank you all for your trust in me. 客服小何感谢大家的支持，我会继续努力的！ https://t.co/PS3OkwSjzF