Before you go deep down this article’s rabbit hole, let’s cut to the chase and define what a KOL means in crypto.
“KOL stands for 'key opinion leader’.”
So, what’s the difference between a KOL and an influencer?
To be honest, basically nothing.
Some claim that a KOL has the pedigree, expertise, and reputation to lead a subject.
Whereas an influencer is more of a popular figure, regardless of a particular expertise, whether niche or not.
So yeah, the margin of difference is basically nonexistent.
Okay, so what is a ‘crypto’ KOL?
A crypto KOL is someone who has gained a reputation in the space, plain and simple.
“A good friend of mine once told me that to be a KOL in crypto, you can be either funny, smart, or rich.”
I frankly think about this more often than I should.
My conclusion today is that he is right, but there are a few more out there, and they all complement each other in some way.
And yes, as you may have imagined, some KOLs do accept financial incentives for being popular. Nothing out of the norm, the same you see outside of crypto, too.
By the way, this article won't go into what crypto KOL marketing is or influencer marketing strategies. We believe that a separate post about crypto marketing campaigns is best if we were to cover the subject. Tons of crypto social media campaign articles fit the bill today, plus we already wrote a piece to find the best NFT and crypto marketing agencies in New York City.
Yes, these folks sometimes get hired to build community engagement, or are paid by campaign performance to promote projects, no different from traditional influencers.
Many KOLs promote for their own gain, and will keep on doing so.
This article sheds light on what a KOL is in crypto, the types of KOLs out there, who to follow, and what to avoid.
Types of Crypto KOLs
Now that you know what a KOL is in crypto, it’s time to break down the different KOL profiles we typically see.
- Smart - signaling opportunities before anyone else
- Funny - picture the typical smart, meme maestro, shitposter
- Rich - the typical fella with a Pudgy Penguin NFT profile pic on crypto X, and flexing massive PnL wins and plays
- Shillers - to shill means to 'sell'. Therefore, these are people constantly pumping their own bags or getting paid for promos
- Founders - my favorite of all. These are those who built a successful product first, and due to their success, became a KOL type of their own. These folks are certainly smart, shillers, and obviously rich. Some even take over abandoned projects through a community takeover (CTO), turning dead projects into winners. Founders are also great because as of today, most are doxxed with revealed identities
- Analyst - those who typically do chart analysis and research, analyze historical data, forecast, and write technical reports
- Researchers - those developing and testing new technologies. Or those that do investigative work, including market analysis or cybersecurity-related cases
- Educators - not necessarily a course seller, although it could be. Pay attention to the honest educators in the space, teaching you how to try new tools, avoid fallouts, and have good faith above all. Tons of great KOLs out there sharing valuable threads every day
At the end of the day, a respected KOL is someone who respects their followers and target audience. Someone with honest and genuine engagement. KOLs who do not build meaningful interactions with others will simply not cut it.
The goal for all KOLs, at least the good ones, is to maintain authenticity, and the best way to accomplish so is to maintain transparency at all times.
Where are crypto KOLs today?
The reality is that if you look hard enough, you will find KOLs everywhere.
"In terms of social media channels, you will find the vast majority of crypto KOLs on crypto X, followed by TikTok, YouTube, and Reddit."
Here at Joined Crypto, we are very much in tune with crypto Twitter, now crypto X, where, in our opinion, the largest crypto community has flourished since the 2010s.
We believe that crypto X is also ahead of the curve when it comes to influence, knowledge, and engagement.
Therefore, to expand what is a KOL in crypto, we made a list of 15 must follow accounts if you are new to crypto Twitter (CT), now called crypto X.
The top 15 crypto KOLs we trust
Before you start following every person here, know that it is your responsibility to follow common sense and make your assessment about anything these guys pitch you.
No, I’m not saying that these guys will dump on you, take your money, or simply ignore you, but they could!
“Always be cautious when following KOLs.”
I could have added the classic KOLs / founders, like Vitalik Buterin (@VitalikButerin), Brian Armstrong (@brian_armstrong), Michael Saylor (@saylor), Anatoly Yakovenko (@aeyakovenko), or Tyler (@tyler) and Cameron (@cameron) Winklevoss. But these names are nothing new.
I did not want to add billionaires or Fortune 500 CEOs, but more casual examples from the very niche community that crypto X is, where the core users really reside. Not even someone brand new to crypto will take too long before stumbling on the big names just mentioned.
That’s why I wanted to make a list of retail consumers, or builders, who have serious motion. Motion strong enough to catch the attention of the brightest minds in the industry.
Not all these people have made life-changing money, and this article is not really about that either. Again, it's about folks who are tuned into the latest in crypto, are active, and once again, have lots of motion.
The list is more about people that you and I can relate to, not just your typical rich crypto personality.
Some of these folks started their own Web3 products early, some do investigative work to take down hackers, some are just amazing at spotting opportunities, and some are just hilarious.
I really do not understand the people who talk badly about some of them, like when they complain that their favorite KOL dumped their tokens on them.
These are practices done at the highest level too, and if it weren't for consistency and a hint of luck, these people would not be doing the work they do today.
"Again, it's your responsibility to vet these KOLs further and be responsible with your decisions at all times."
Also, just one of these names remains anonymous, ZachXBT, an investigative researcher, for obvious reasons. Knowing these folks identity always helps.
Without further ado, these are folks that I look up to in some way. Not because of their cool engagement metrics, but because I’ve seen them rise to stardom from the early days, despite the struggles. The list includes:
- Threadguy (@notthreadguy)
- Frank (@frankdegods)
- Deeze (@DeezeFi)
- Cobie (@cobie)
- Rasmr (@rasmr_eth)
- Farokh (@farokh)
- Ansem (@blknoiz06)
- Jakey (@SolJakey)
- ZachXBT (@zachxbt)
- Coffeezilla (@coffeebreak_YT)
- Gigi (@itsthatgigi)
- Orangie (@Orangie)
- Minh (@MINHxDYNASTY)
- Star Platinum (@StarPlatinum_)
- Joined Crypto (@joinedcrypto)
Okay, let's get to it.
1. Threadguy (@notthreadguy)
Founder / Thought Leader
Threadguy is by far the coolest and most down-to-earth from the list, in our opinion.
What seemed like a shitpost account at first turned out to be one of the most trusted voices of Web3.
Threadguy moves the needle like no other.
To be honest, the fact that he has not launched a token or NFT collection yet gives an important layer of credibility and audience trust.
Instead, he opted to start his own crypto media company, Counterparty, something we value, considering that some of these projects get forgotten. Yet, Threadguy pushes his own like no other, day in and out.
He streams almost on a daily basis, conducts interviews, and shares the lens of what a savvy yet curious crypto fella is all about.
From interviewing crypto investors to crypto startups, all the big names in the crypto world are lining up to be hosted in his stream.
Threadguy represents the culture like no other.
Some may argue that he is the culture.
2. Frank (@frankdegods)
Founder / Thought Leader
Frank was an early investor in Solana ICO, then created one of Solana’s most popular Solana NFT collections, DeGods, which ended up being a massive success.
He might get backlash from bridging the NFT project to Ethereum, then backtracking and pushing it back to Solana again.
The back and forth, plus his involvement in the recent memecoin rush, has given him a negative outlook, which is a bit unfounded in our opinion.
Everyone in this space has failed or made financial decisions to benefit themselves, so why can’t he do so in peace? This is what I argue with a profile like Frank.
The guy has a proven track record of pushing new tech like no other. When NFTs were hot in Ethereum, he was one of the first ones to make Solana NFTs cool as well.
A vet of the Solana and general crypto space, with strong opinions and vision for innovative products.
He also has a heavy hand when it comes to early investments, and will often hear of him spending big bucks on early stage projects.
Today, he is leaning more leaning towards sharing valuable insights, since he has taken a step away from the DeGods NFT collection to some extent.
3. Deeze (@DeezeFi)
Podcaster / Shitposter
Even though you will deduce (fast) that he had some questionable habits, Deeze is perhaps one of the coolest and funniest folks on crypto X.
He is into all things cutting edge, and happens to always be aware of the next thing popping.
He has also worked for a variety of crypto companies, and he is the host of the “We Do A Little” podcast.
If something gets out on crypto, he is likely to pounce on it in a matter of hours.
I love how Deeze is also honest when he takes an L, when things did not go so well.
Although, more of often than not, you will see him knock it out of the park by sharing something new.
4. Cobie (@cobie)
Podcaster / Thought Leader
Perhaps the most OG out of all OGs on this list. There’s not a person on this list who has outlasted Cobie in this space, him being around since the early days, when crypto Twitter was barely a thing.
Not only has Cobie been smart and early to the crypto and Bitcoin game, but he is an overall great dude, pushing the industry one step further.
A blend between a podcaster, opinionist, researchers, and a shitposter today. I would say that his posts are not always crypto-related, but when he speaks, most listen.
His weekly show, Up Only, has been around for years, hosted by the man himself. His interviews always include some of the top personalities and builders in the space.
His down-to-earthness, honesty, and work ethic make it an easy follow.
Make sure to tune into his weekly show on Thursdays.
To learn more about Cobie's origin story, check the post below.
5. Rasmr (@rasmr_eth)
Podcaster / Shitposter
A shitposter by nature, turned into a biography of someone learning how to navigate Web3.
The dude is extremely funny, and curious to learn more.
Rasmr has shown up non-stop, bear or bull market, the fella does not stop posting.
He really took off by bull posting Moo Deng and Fartcoin during the memecoin mania. When the memecoin trenches are hot, madness prevails, so backlashing him for his engaging content makes little sense.
The takeaway is seeing someone who succeeded in terms of building an audience by being consistent.
Lastly, Rasmr does his best to provide valuable insights about fairly complex blockchain concepts. He does so in a casual way, genuinely interested in learning about the tech himself, and then teaching others.
A great and humble guy, and always active within the crypto community discussions.
6. Farokh (@farokh)
Podcaster / Thought Leader
The founder of Rug Radio, a collection during the NFT bull run that helped build his own podcast.
Even though the vision was perhaps larger, like everything during the time, Farokh still runs a successful podcast and has a strong voice in the crypto community.
He is excellent at explaining and discussing complex concepts in a casual, fun way. Providing real value to his audience.
When he streams interviews or insights, they are usually very articulate, yet casual.
A cool person who can certainly help you stay on top of all things happening in Web3, and still projects the brand values established during the early days of Rug Radio.
Beyond Web3, you will see him talk about collectibles every now and then, such as Pokemon or similar, tailored towards a broader audience.
7. Ansem (@blknoiz06)
Analyst / Thought Leader and Bull Poster
One of the staples of today’s crypto X scene, Ansem is known to have spearheaded the bullpost frenzy that catapulted the DogWifHat token to a market cap of over $2.7B.
He frequently shares his own thesis on market trends, investments, funny jokes, and other crypto-related things.
I’ve seen him predict market tops a few times, and the opposite as well.
Most of these memecoin plays happen on Solana, so knowing the best Solana DEX to trade on is essential if you want to follow his calls.
He has a heavy hand when it comes to investing hard on something new.
Beyond following his investment advice, this is a must pay attention to, because when he mentions something, volatility for the asset usually follows.
The boy has motion. Let’s just leave it at that.
8. Jakey (@SolJakey)
Founder / Shitposter
Jakey expanded from his already successful Instagram comedy account to crypto X, bridging in a wider audience into Web3.
Perhaps one of the top faces recognized with Pump Fun, and the memecoin craze it created.
The dude is the funniest and wildest out of them all in this list.
His funny videos and posts have allowed him to successfully build genuine connections in the space, placing him as a recognized member of crypto X.
He even got arrested, along with his posse, while pushing his own memecoin, Basedd House, by laying a massive banner on top of the Hollywood sign in Los Angeles, California. What a legend...
I rarely hold my laugh when I see his content.
9. ZachXBT (@zachxbt)
Researcher / Thought Leader
The absolute best investigative blockchain researcher by far.
Multimillion and small cases flood "his" inbox, begging for his help to identify fraudsters who scam around the world. Hoping that his alert will block the funds from disappearing.
ZackXBT is famous for tracing and reporting malicious actions on chain. He will go as far as coordinating with exchanges and local authorities to return stolen funds.
The crypto vigilante we all wanted, and the best at it by far. All done anonymously to protect himself of course.
If I were doing anything to harm others on the blockchain, my first nightmare would have Zach chasing me without a doubt.
An absolute anonymous legend, a crypto angel of some sort.
10. Coffeezilla (@coffeebreak_YT)
Researcher / Thought Leader
An investigative researcher and journalist who specialized in uncovering malpractice, rugs, and bad actors in the space.
As of late, he has been branching to cover cases beyond crypto as well.
Unlike ZachXBT, Coffeezilla is doxxed, meaning that he has revealed his identity.
Therefore, when he posts a report, his well-being is in danger, as you may assume.
Therefore, we can safely say that Coffeezilla not only has a big brain, but a big pair to pursue these cases out in the open.
11. Gigi (@itsthatgigi)
Streamer / Thought Leader
Gigi is slightly different from its counterparts, and perhaps one of the main lady figures tailored to the female and Spanish audience.
Although she does frequently mention her origins as a Latina, her content is mainly in English. Females are minority demographic in crypto without a doubt, so her presence is a plus to the space.
She might appeal to an already predominantly male audience in crypto X just by looks, but I also give her credit for starting her own streaming channel and growing her account.
She certainly has brains, is technical, and hustles like no other.
From just catching memecoin runners and bullposting, to eventually having her own company and team. Beyond scoring a 1000x, this sounds like the dream to me.
A winner in the space.
12. Orangie (@Orangie)
Founder and Streamer / Thought Leader
Where do I even start… Orangie is the prime example of talent and consistency in the space. The guy is already a pro gamer and a succesful YouTuber, which really came in handy as he transitioned towards crypto.
Having the reflexes of a gamer while trading can pay off, and that’s what some claimed to be his edge during his start.
In addition to pushing lots of content on YouTube and live streaming, Orangie built his own crypto snipping tool and bot, Nova. A tool for pro traders, essentially.
Between his earnings from Nova, YouTube, X, and so on, Orangie can have the luxury of pulling some wild stunts with Lamborghinis for breakfast and flights to Dubai for dinner.
Follow him for his insights, or the lifestyle. Everyone on this latest cycle is well aware who he is.
13. Minh (@MINHxDYNASTY)
Independent / Thought Leader
Another pioneer in the community, and one that has bull posted the Azuki NFT collection like no other.
Kinda makes sense, since Azuki is by far the flagship Asian collection worldwide. This dude has repped the brand like no other.
He also shares some pretty funny memes, solid research tips, analysis, and also some nice personal threads.
He might be wealthy today, but I remember the early days when Minh was fighting like everyone else in the trenches.
Even though there are so many folks that have been around longer than him, he portrays well the WAGMI story.
He also trades and collects Pokemon cards.
From rags to riches.
In crypto, WAGMI stands for "we are going to make it". And Minh, sure did.
Looking forward to seeing more of his content.
If you want to start collecting NFTs like Minh did with Azuki, grab yourself the best NFT wallet first.
14. Star Platinum (@StarPlatinum_)
A new account that recently skyrocketed in follower growth, deservedly so.
He is known to write detailed threads about the hottest topics in the industry.
Coverage that is usually more detailed and faster than that of the New York Times or any other large crypto publication.
He is at the forefront of all things, pushing content like the big guys.
One of my favorite ways to stay on top of all things crypto.
15. Joined Crypto (@joinedcrypto)
Educational / Thought Leader
Last but not least, give us a follow.
What is KOLscan?
Kolscan is an infamous website that serves as a live competitive leaderboard of the crypto traders who sign up to the platform.
You can see the username, wallet, and social account that raked in the highest profits at the time. Sort it by the day, week, or month.
Picture it as some king of trading league.
If you bank a good payout while signed up, you will rank on the dashboard. And if so, expect new followers on social media, and lots of copy traders.
"Top earners easily earn around $20k+ profit in a single day!"
If you want to venture into memecoin trading and need a pro tool, check out Axiom. Which is what I personally use.
And if you're serious about trading hardcore, make sure you're running the best laptop for crypto trading, since speed matters when you're sniping tokens.
Warning Note
Before you get all excited about copy trading them, note that in some cases, these traders might make one massive win, gain followers, and subsequently dump on them for the remainder of the time.
Finding credible influencers in the space is no easy feat, so make sure to follow and tread lightly as you get to know them.
Also, admit that if you are chasing profits, the nature is cutthroat and there is a winner and a loser always in the game.
And some of these KOLs aim to rank on Kolscan for the purpose of getting exposure to them dump on their followers, fabricating their wins for the sake of showing up on the leaderboard.
"Feel free to follow the fellas you see making big bucks in Kolscan's leaderboard, but know that these folks come and go more often than not. "
These people will also show you crypto's casino side more than anything else.
How Do KOLs Make Money in the Crypto Space?
Some KOLs definitely use their large followings to do a variety of ventures.
Some good, some bad.
These are actions that we cannot control, but as a user, it is our duty to be aware and support the right KOLs to grow the industry.
Let’s review some of the common actions done by these folks.
Growing their own product or brand (great)
Anybody who grows their own business, whether it is media or an actual product, is likely a sum for the industry.
Those that actually get to product market fit earn their reputation legitimately and are to be admired. These are folks who typically keep delivering excellent products over time.
Paid promo (okay)
As long as the KOL is being transparent, mentioning it is a sponsored post, then it’s all good in our eyes.
On the other hand, getting paid for undisclosed promo can earn you some backlash.
The product or service being pitched has to be legit, a good product, else their reputation is on a slippery slope and forgotten.
Dumping on followers (bad)
The absolute worst of all worst. Anybody who grows a following with the intention of deceiving them for their own benefit, intentionally, needs to be called out and removed from the crypto industry.
The malice typically translates into an extraction of funds that never come back to crypto.
How to Spot Fake or Paid KOLs
There are a variety of ways to spot a fake KOL or shill (selling pitch). Let’s break down some of the most important ones.
Remember, the important thing is to avoid your favorite KOL dumping tokens on you.
Fake Community Growth
X is one of those social media platforms that allows accounts to have a verified badge by a username, signaling that the person is real, not a bot, with completed a "human" verification process.
Therefore, if you were to follow a "KOL" that has a low count of verified followers, it might mean that some are indeed fake.
Unfortunately, buying fake community members and boosting fake key metrics is simpler than you think.
So next time you see hundreds of shares and likes on a post from a brand new account, know that chances are it is fake, and likely a rug.
Impersonation
So many bad actors grab the images of KOLs to promote scams.
Always double-check that they have a verified old profile, the social handle username is correct and was not edited recently, and they are followed by the right people.
If your following and followers match, then chances are the account is the right one, but to each their own.
Bundled buy-in
When a new product launches, such as a token or an NFT collection, you can identify if your KOL's wallet is part of the bundle.
A bundle is usually a set of wallets interconnected that are usually bought pre-market or at a preferred rate.
Not that it is illegal, but you want the KOL to disclose it beforehand.
It is normal for some of these people to get early token access.
Bad crypto projects
Hard to pin point whats good or bad when there are numerous products to analyze on a daily basis, this is the nature of crypto at the end of the day.
A KOL that promotes wrong projects is on its path towards a complete strikeout and inevitable trash their reputation.
Getting To Meet KOLs
One of the coolest things you will find from the crypto community is how easy it is to connect with some of these folks.
Every single day, folks like them and me clock into X to share our stories, say “GM” (good morning), and make smart friends.
You are just a good meme or clever post away from catching their attention and even getting a follow.
Some of these KOLs are also well off.
You never know, if you are pitching them a cryptocurrency project that has potential, the values align, and you are planning to do a token launch, then you might get the backing you need.
When KOLs talk, the chart typically moves, hopefully not in the wrong direction.
Oh, and if you hit it big following their calls, you probably want a crypto friendly bank if you want to cash out.
This is all you need to know about what a KOL in crypto is, the types, who to follow, and pitfalls to look out for.
Please treat KOLs with respect, because if you stay around long enough in the crypto space, then you might turn into one.
Crypto KOL marketing recruiting
Before we get into it, we are not in a position to recommend KOLs that do not transparently disclose their promos.
This is the approach we suggest you follow as well.
Theoretically, this behavior should have some regulatory compliance oversight, but the global nature of blockchain technology makes it hard to enforce.
Let's break down some important elements to consider when recruiting a crypto KOL to boost your engagement quality.
Audience Alignment
In order to boost credibility for your project, you must first need to understand if your project values match the KOL's audience demographics. If so, then mapping the right KOL marketing strategy is much simpler.
Analytics For Success
Tracking these campaign performances may vary, as some marketers might opt for leads or just impressions, no different from traditional advertising campaigns.
Do not get lost in complex crypto marketing analytics. These are traditional campaigns that are more or less identical to those outside of crypto.
Steps to Get in Touch
Again, no different from influencer outreach beyond crypto.
Follow these steps:
- Follow them on social media platforms
- Build rapport with them
- Send them a DM with your pitch
"Remember, you miss all the shots you don't take. So, follow, and send them that DM!"
Keep it simple - these are typical marketing efforts, for typical marketing purposes. Just because the work is in crypto does not mean you have to reinvent the wheel.
This section could be extensive, since hiring a KOL is quite the task, but the reality is that it is no different in Web2.
If the message resonates with the proper KOL audience alignment, then you are likely going to get a deal and lure potential investors or users onto your project.
My key takeaway is that if you maintain authenticity and disclose your achievements publicly, you will watch as the world of crypto opens its doors for you.
If you are into tech, want to build the next frontier of the internet, finance, memes, and beyond, then jump on X and start following Joined Crypto (@joinecrypto), and the list above.
If the list is nothing new to you, and are looking to learn more from top leaders, check out some of the authors mentioned in our latest article about the best 22 crypto books in 2026.
Disclaimer: Some links in this post are affiliate links. When you click through and make a trade or sign up, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend platforms and tools we actually use and believe will help you navigate the crypto markets more effectively. This helps us pay the bills, and keep delivering the alpha and market insights you rely on. Thanks for supporting Joined Crypto!
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