Anna Baydakova

Anna writes about blockchain projects and regulation with a special focus on Eastern Europe and Russia. She is especially excited about stories on privacy, cybercrime, sanctions policies and censorship resistance of decentralized technologies.
She graduated from the Saint Petersburg State University and the Higher School of Economics in Russia and got her Master's degree at Columbia Journalism School in New York City.
She joined CoinDesk after years of writing for various Russian media, including the leading political outlet Novaya Gazeta.
Anna owns BTC and an NFT of sentimental value.

Anna Baydakova

Latest from Anna Baydakova


Finance

Binance Denies Allegations It Shared Russian Users' Data With Law Enforcement

According to Reuters's sources, the exchange could have helped Russia's secret service to track donations to the opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

Changpeng Zhao, founder and chief executive officer of Binance (Bloomberg/Getty Images)

Finance

EXMO Exits Russia, Sells User Base There to Unnamed Buyer

The crypto exchange is also giving up its clients in Belarus and Kazahkstan following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Moscow.

Markets

Ukraine Crisis Is Not Propelling Crypto Market Activity, Blockchain Data Shows

Russians are leaving their country and taking money with them, but crypto hasn't felt the impact – so far.

People look at the exterior of a damaged residential block hit by an early morning missile strike on February 25, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine.  (Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

Layer 2

Inside the Ukrainian Crypto Startup Waging Cyberwar on Russia

Hacken helps crypto businesses with cybersecurity. Now, with the war at home, it’s also leading a guerilla offensive against the Russian internet.

Hacken’s stress-testing product, disBalancer, has been weaponized to “DDos the entire Russian internet,” CEO Dmytro Budorin said. (Hacken)

Layer 2

'Absolutely Surreal': Inside a Fund Raising Millions in Crypto for Besieged Ukraine

The Unchain fund has raised $1.8 million and plans to launch a DAO this week, even as team members live with sirens, explosions and artillery barrage following the Russian invasion.

Apartment block in Kyiv after shelling during Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Kyiv City Council)

Policy

Russia to Restrict Crypto Trading to Licensed Platforms, Certified Wallets

While shunning a ban, the Ministry of Finance is proposing a restrictive regulatory regime.

Russia's finance ministry (Shutterstock)

Layer 2

Crypto Tax Prep Business Booms as Trading Surges and IRS Tightens Screws

Startups that help Americans calculate their crypto taxes have been raising hundreds of millions, hitting unicorn valuations. Even traditional tax-prep firms are rolling out crypto services. This piece is part of CoinDesk's Tax Week.

(Creative Commons, modified by CoinDesk)