Elizabeth Napolitano

Elizabeth Napolitano was a data journalist at CoinDesk, where she reported on topics such as decentralized finance, centralized cryptocurrency exchanges, altcoins, and Web3. She has covered technology and business for NBC News and CBS News. In 2022, she received an ACP national award for breaking news reporting.

Elizabeth Napolitano

Latest from Elizabeth Napolitano


Policy

Sam Bankman-Fried Grilled by Prosecutor, Who Points Out Contradictions in His Testimony

Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon repeatedly cornered the FTX founder on his public statements about his involvement with his affiliated trading firm Alameda and the safety of exchange customer assets.

Sam Bankman-Fried (Liz Napolitano/CoinDesk)

Finance

Sam Bankman-Fried Rebuffed Barry Silbert's and Celsius' Requests for Help, Ex-FTX CEO Testifies at His Trial

The crypto mogul served as a white knight for other struggling companies, though, before his empire fell, too.

Barry Silbert. CEO & Founder Digital Currency Group (DCG)

Policy

Sam Bankman-Fried's Jurors Were Sent Home for the Day, but His Debut on the Stand Was Significant Anyway

Even though jurors weren't there to hear the former crypto mogul, the ex-FTX CEO's first appearance on the witness stand was still remarkable.

Despite claims by right-wing political figures, Sam Bankman-Fried was definitely not a free man when he (right) exited a Manhattan courtroom on July 26, 2023. (Nikhilesh De/CoinDesk)

Policy

Sam Bankman-Fried's Defense May Depend on Character and Fact Witnesses

The FTX founder will call six witnesses to kick off his defense, a filing said.

SBF Trial Newsletter Graphic

Policy

'Absolutely Not': FTX's Former General Counsel Says He Never Approved Loans of Customer Funds

Can Sun, FTX's general counsel from August 2021 to the time of the exchange’s collapse in November 2022, testified in the Sam Bankman-Fried fraud trial.

Can Sun, former FTX general counsel, leaves a New York courthouse after testifying against Sam Bankman-Fried on Oct. 19, 2023. (Nik De/CoinDesk)

Policy

Former Top FTX Executive Testifies He Knew $8B of Customer Money Was Missing

Nishad Singh, the latest member of Sam Bankman-Fried’s inner circle to testify, said his admiration for SBF turned to “shame” on discovering FTX execs enriched themselves with customer funds.

Nishad Singh, left, exits a federal courthouse after testifying on Oct. 16, 2023 (Nikhilesh De/CoinDesk)

Policy

SBF Trial: Defense Counsel's Cross-Examination of Star Prosecution Witness Meandered

Mark Cohen bumbled at times, asking Caroline Ellison to repeat much of the same information she told prosecutors in testimony the day before.

Ex-Alameda CEO Caroline Ellison at the federal courthouse in Manhattan (Danny Nelson/CoinDesk)

Policy

Chinese Bribes, Thai Prostitutes and an End to the Lies: Caroline Ellison’s Explosive Second Day of Testimony Against Sam Bankman-Fried

The former Alameda Research CEO wept on the witness stand during her second day of testimony in Sam Bankman-Fried's fraud trial.

Caroline Ellison, the government's star witness in their case against FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried, leaving court on Tuesday, Oct. 11 following her first day of testimony. (Danny Nelson/CoinDesk)

Policy

Star Witness Caroline Ellison Says Sam Bankman-Fried Directed Her to Commit Fraud

“I sent balance sheets at the direction of Sam [Bankman-Fried] that made Alameda’s balances look less risky to investors,” Ellison testified.

Ex-Alameda CEO Caroline Ellison exits the courthouse after testifying in Sam Bankman-Fried's trial on Oct. 10, 2023 (Elizabeth Napolitano/CoinDesk)

Policy

Former Alameda Research CEO Caroline Ellison to Testify Tuesday in Sam Bankman-Fried Trial

Gary Wang, a former top lieutenant in Bankman-Fried’s empire, testified that Alameda had “special privileges” at FTX that allowed the hedge fund to spend $8 billion of exchange customers’ money.

Sam Bankman-Fried (Liz Napolitano/CoinDesk)