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


Policy

CFTC Asked to Provide Opinion in SEC Case Against Telegram ICO

A U.S. judge has asked lawyers from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to provide an opinion in the case brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) against Telegram's $1.7 billion token sale.

CFTC

Markets

Telegram Drops Technical White Paper for Blockchain SEC Is Trying to Halt

Telegram has revealed more details about its TON blockchain's block validation process, even as it fights the SEC in court over its $1.7 billion token sale.

Telegram mobile app

Markets

Coronavirus Controls in China Are Delaying Crypto Miner Deliveries, Firms Say

MicroBT and Canaan have notified customers they would be delaying ASIC deliveries due to the Chinese government's quarantine of Wuhan following the coronavirus outbreak.

(Image via Shutterstock)

Markets

Ukraine Plans to Track Suspicious Crypto Transactions Above $1,200

Ukraine’s financial watchdog will track crypto transactions exceeding $1,200, according to the head of its Ministry of Finance.

money, ukraine

Policy

Court Documents Reveal More Possible Investors in Telegram’s $1.7B ICO

Big names that may have invested in Telegram’s token sale are surfacing in court documents as the company fights a case brought by the SEC.

Credit: Shutterstock

Policy

SEC Depositions Shed Light on Telegram's $1.7B Token Sale

Newly released transcripts of the SEC’s depositions of Telegram executives offer a rare window into the logic and the mechanics behind its $1.7 billion token sale.

TALE OF THE TAPE: “If I see that Telegram needs more resources, I would happily invest more because I'm a person that prefers not to own any real estate,” CEO Pavel Durov said during his deposition. (Image via Shutterstock)

Policy

Blockchain Association Sides With Telegram Against SEC, Says Grams Are Not Securities

The U.S. advocacy group has come out strongly on the side of Telegram in its ongoing SEC court case.

Thurgood Marshall Courthouse, New York. Credit: Shutterstock

Policy

Digital Chamber Asks Court to Draw Line Between Investment Contracts and Assets in Telegram Case

The Chamber of Digital Commerce, a blockchain advocacy group, wants a U.S. court to distinguish between an investment contract and the underlying asset used by Telegram during a 2018 initial coin offering.

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

Policy

SEC: Cash-Strapped Telegram Launched 2018 Token Sale to Pay for Servers

Telegram launched its token sale because it was "short on cash" to pay for servers, the SEC said.

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov (TechCrunch)

Policy

Liquid Exchange Cancels Sale of Telegram's Gram Tokens

With the SEC lawsuit holding up the launch of Telegram's TON network, the Japan-based exchange has cancelled its sale of gram tokens and refunded investors.

Credit: Shutterstock