David Z. Morris

Chief Insights Columnist

David Z. Morris was CoinDesk's Chief Insights Columnist. He has written about crypto since 2013 for outlets including Fortune, Slate, and Aeon. He is the author of "Bitcoin is Magic," an introduction to Bitcoin's social dynamics. He is a former academic sociologist of technology with a PhD in Media Studies from the University of Iowa. He holds Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and small amounts of other crypto assets.

Latest from David Z. Morris

Opinion

Ethereum’s Dark Underbelly Shows That Even in Crypto, Trust Matters

Laura Shin’s book “The Cryptopians” drives home the reality that the human element is at least as important as it is in traditional fields.

Apr 18, 2022

Though he was one of many Ethereum cofounders, Vitalik Buterin's contributions - including surprisingly careful management - were pivotal. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg/Getty)

Opinion

Elden Ring Has Outlasted Its Critics, and So Will Bitcoin

From Software never bowed to misguided attacks on its Souls games. That purity of vision has made them legends.

Apr 13, 2022

From Software's Elden Ring, which became a huge hit after the studio had labored over its systems in relative obscurity for more than a decade.

Finance

Michael Levy: How to Turn Your NFT Into a Loan

Levy, a speaker at the Consensus festival, was an early investor in NBA Top Shot, a catalyst for the NFT boom. Now he runs Flowty, an NFT lending platform.

Apr 11, 2022

(Michael Levy, modified by Kevin Ross/CoinDesk)

Opinion

Meme Coins, Gambling and Crypto Regulation

As the Biden administration develops a crypto regulation framework, one type of token could be due for particularly close scrutiny.

Apr 8, 2022

Opinion

Waves Founder Blames Short Sellers for Its Woes. Here's Why That's a Red Flag

To longtime finance observers, blaming shorts often looks like the last desperate deflection of a project in denial about its failures.

Apr 6, 2022

The WAVES smart-contract ecosystem has hit a rough patch. Its attempt to stop short selling might not be a sustainable solution. (Gabe LHeureux/ Getty Images)

Opinion

Ethereum Founder Vitalik Buterin Praises 'Bitcoin Maximalism' (Maybe)

The blockchain mastermind also took shots at Ethereum in a richly ambiguous April Fools’ post.

Apr 1, 2022

Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, speaks during ETHDenver in Denver, Colorado, U.S., on Friday, Feb. 18, 2022. (Chet Strange/Getty Images)

Opinion

Chris Larsen’s Plan to Greenify Bitcoin: Risky, Impractical and Maybe Nonsensical

As he strides away from the wreckage of Ripple, bags full to bursting, Larsen thinks he knows what’s best for the coin he failed to replace.

Mar 29, 2022

Ripple co=founder Chris Larsen is launching a PR campaign to make bitcoin greener by changing its security model. Bitcoiners see it as the latest in a long line of attacks. (Malte Mueller/Getty Images/fStop)

Opinion

Why There's Already a Will Smith Slap Token

Meme tokens often arrive to capitalize on a viral moment, like flowers blooming after rain. But they rarely stay fresh for long.

Mar 28, 2022

Opinion

Why Is the IMF So Afraid of Cryptocurrency?

The IMF is not a neutral aid organization, but the economic arm of a vast power structure. Crypto threatens that power.

Mar 18, 2022

A demonstrator during a protest against Argentina's International Monetary Fund (IMF) agreement outside the National Congress building in Buenos Aires on Thursday, March 17, 2022. The protestor's t-shirt features the slogan "Las Estafas No Se Pagan," or "Scams are not meant to be paid."

Argentina's inflation accelerated in February at its fastest pace in nearly a year, surpassing forecasts and challenging the governments targets for this year in its preliminary agreement with the International Monetary Fund. (Marcos Brindicci/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Layer 2

Juno's Proposal 16 Vote Is a Watershed for Blockchain Governance – For Better or Worse

The proposal to cut a whale's token balance, which narrowly passed, highlights the complexity and risks of on-chain governance.

Mar 16, 2022

Implementing Proposal 16 would require a hard fork. (Juno, modified by CoinDesk)

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