David Z. Morris

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.

David Z. Morris

Latest from David Z. Morris


Tech

Bitcoin Won’t Save the Afghan People

Crypto activity in the collapsing country is likely a sign of capital flight by corrupt elites, not aid or remittances flowing in, according to one expert.

Afghan refugees in Indonesia. Banking bans and a lack of cryptocurrency infrastructure will add major barriers to Afghans trying to send money home. (Getty Images)

Markets

How NFTs Fit Into DeFi

Want liquidity without selling your Bored Ape? It’s coming.

Firewood cord (Andrew Ridley/Unsplash)

Finance

Art in the Age of Digital Scarcity: Why NFTs Enchant Us

For the first time, digital art has a sense of history - and the ineffable allure of authenticity.

Jay Z (l) and his CryptoPunk Twitter Avatar (r)

Markets

The Shocking Endurance of the Crypto Market

Bitcoin and other cryptos are notorious for sharp boom-bust cycles. Nearly a year into a robust market, it’s clear something has changed.

Up only. (Or at least sideways.)

Markets

Why Avatars Dominate the NFT Market

Blockchain collectibles come in many flavors, but one is clearly leading the pack.

A selection of Bored Apes, one of the best-selling NFT avatar series.

Finance

Should Crypto Journalists Own Crypto?

One journalist remembers all the times he has owned cheap bitcoin – and why he was willing to give it up for a career.

Getty Images

Markets

OnlyFans' Porn U-Turn Is a Victory Against Banking Censorship

Banks helped force a hugely disruptive porn ban on OnlyFans. With public fury focused on their outsized power, the banks seem to have backed down.

Censorship Concept

Markets

Are NFTs Securities?

Some of them are trying to be.

Lazy Lions are goofy art NFTs. They also include governance rights that might attract attention from securities regulators.

Markets

Why Did Visa Buy a $150K NFT? Why Does Anyone?

There are some very good reasons, it turns out, rooted in our deep, totally irrational animal brains.

punk-variety-2x

Markets

OnlyFans Stops Sex Acts and Politicizes Payments

OnlyFans has abandoned the sex workers that made it huge, largely thanks to pressure from banks and payment providers. That's a terrifying precedent, says our columnist.

An Onlyfans couple