Cheyenne Ligon

On the news team at CoinDesk, Cheyenne focuses on crypto regulation and crime. Cheyenne is originally from Houston, Texas. She studied political science at Tulane University in Louisiana. In December 2021, she graduated from CUNY's Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, where she focused on business and economics reporting. She has no significant crypto holdings.

Cheyenne Ligon

Latest from Cheyenne Ligon


Policy

US to Release Jailed BTC-e Operator Vinnik in Russia Prisoner Swap

Alexander Vinnik previously pled guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Alexander Vinnik (Shutterstock)

Policy

Ransomware Payments Fell 35% in 2024 as More Victims Refuse to Pay: Chainalysis

According to the blockchain analytics firm, less than half of recorded ransomware attacks resulted in victim payments.

Hacker (Getty Images/Seksan Mongkhonkhamsao)

Policy

Regulation By Enforcement Is Out at CFTC, Acting Chair Pham Says

The CFTC’s Division of Enforcement is being reorganized to “refocus” on fraud prevention.

Commissioner Caroline Pham is proposing a crypto regulation pilot program at the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (Cheyenne Ligon/CoinDesk)

Policy

SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce Lays Out 10 Priorities for New Crypto Task Force

Peirce also urged crypto companies to be patient as the agency decides how to “disentangle” itself from litigation initiated under former Chair Gary Gensler.

SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce.

Policy

Acting SEC Chair Uyeda Names 3 Appointees to Agency’s New Crypto Task Force

Landon Zinda, former policy director for crypto think tank Coin Center, is the task force’s new senior advisor.

Acting SEC Chair Mark Uyeda (Nikhilesh De/CoinDesk)

Policy

U.S. Prosecutors Charge Canadian Man With $65M Hacks of Indexed Finance, KyberSwap

Andean “Andy” Medjedovic, 22, has been on the run from authorities since 2021.

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York via CoinDesk archives

Policy

Pump.Fun Hit With Proposed Class Action Lawsuit Alleging Securities Violations

The suit alleges that Pump.fun has made nearly $500 million in fees from helping users generate memecoins.

Pump.fun logo

Policy

French Prosecutors Expand Money Laundering, Tax Fraud Probe Against Binance: Reuters

The investigation is focused on alleged offenses committed in both France and the broader European Union from 2019 to 2024.

Richard Teng

Policy

Coinbase Asks U.S. Appeals Court to Say On-Platform Crypto Trades Aren’t Securities

In a Tuesday filing, lawyers for Coinbase argued that their case offered “the single best opportunity” to decide how to regulate secondary crypto trading.

Paul Grewal, Chief Legal Officer, Coinbase (Shutterstock/CoinDesk)

Policy

SEC Forms New Crypto Task Force Spearheaded by Hester Peirce

In a Tuesday announcement, the SEC admitted it “can do better” when it comes to crypto regulation.

Hester Peirce