Who Deserves a Spot on Crypto’s Mount Rushmore?
John Deaton, known for his outspoken support of XRP, has sparked debate with his latest post outlining who he believes deserves a place on a hypothetical “Crypto Mount Rushmore.”
At the top of his list is, unsurprisingly, Bitcoin’s pseudonymous creator, Satoshi Nakamoto. But Deaton argues that Satoshi’s legacy should be shared with others who helped shape the broader crypto ecosystem—including Ripple’s Jed McCaleb and David Schwartz.
McCaleb, who co-founded Ripple and later created Stellar, is recognized by Deaton for his role in building the XRP Ledger. Schwartz, Ripple’s current CTO, is praised not only for his work on XRPL but also for an early patent that predates modern blockchain architecture—something Deaton says laid foundational groundwork for the industry.
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin is another no-brainer, according to Deaton, credited with revolutionizing the space by introducing smart contracts and dApps. Michael Saylor also makes the shortlist for leading MicroStrategy’s aggressive Bitcoin accumulation and helping bring institutional attention to the asset.
Deaton expands the discussion by mentioning other influential figures like Coinbase’s Brian Armstrong, Binance’s Changpeng Zhao, and Cardano’s Charles Hoskinson. On the technical side, he namechecks Chainlink’s Sergey Nazarov, Litecoin’s Charlie Lee, and early Bitcoin contributors like Hal Finney and Gavin Andresen.
Given the wide range of contributions, Deaton suggests there may need to be two separate monuments—one honoring Bitcoin pioneers, and another for innovators in the broader crypto landscape. Either way, the conversation around crypto’s founding figures is far from settled.
Alexander Stefanov
Reporter at Coindoo
Alex is an experienced finance journalist and a cryptocurrency and blockchain enthusiast. With over 8 years of experience covering the crypto, blockchain and fintech industries, he deeply understands the complex and constantly evolving world of digital assets. His insightful and thought-provoking articles provide readers with a clear picture of the latest developments and trends in the market. His passionate approach allows him to break down complex ideas into accessible and insightful content. Follow up on his content to be up to date with the most important trends and topics.
