Cryptomaniacs: A Field Guide

For years, crypto was the domain of technolibertarians and so-called cypherpunks, who traded—and shared their enthusiasm for—alternative currencies on the dark web and message boards. But the meteoric rise (and fall and rise and . . .) of bitcoin, Ethereum, and other coins over the past year has catapulted crypto into the public imagination. Paper billionaires have been minted overnight, catching the eye of neophyte investors, con artists, and regulators alike. Here’s a guide to the new players.

The Evangelists

Brian Armstrong, cofounder