Fran Velasquez

Fran is CoinDesk's TV writer and reporter. He is an alum of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and CUNY's Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, where he earned his master's in business and economic reporting. In the past, he has written for Borderless Magazine, CNBC Make It, and Inc. He owns no crypto holdings.

Fran Velasquez

Latest from Fran Velasquez


Web3

Slava Rubin Says Web3’s Future Will Be Based on Decentralized Data Storage

The Indiegogo founder discusses the future of data and security and why Nillion, the Switzerland-based startup, is on the “cutting edge.”

Naoris hopes to create a decentralized proof-of-security consensus mechanism by the end of 2022. (jaydeep/Pixabay)

Policy

TradFi Regulations Can Be Applied to Crypto – to an Extent, CFTC Commissioner Says

Christy Goldsmith Romero also said Congress needs to act to provide clarity about what agency should oversee the crypto spot market.

Christy Goldsmith Romero, a commissioner at the Commodity Futures Trade Commission (CFTC)

Web3

Tech Behemoths Could Become ‘Dinosaurs’ if They Enter the Metaverse for the Wrong Reasons, Deepak Chopra Says

Chopra, founder of health-care company Chopra Global, discusses why big names in tech could succumb to short-lived success if they leap into the metaverse with the wrong intentions.

Deepak Chopra (Araya Doheny/Getty Images for Lighthouse Immersive and Impact Museums)

Policy

Hodlonaut Expects Craig Wright to Appeal Verdict in Norway

The Bitcoin advocate won a defamation case against Wright, who claims to be the founder of Bitcoin, but said the legal fight isn't likely over.

Hodlonaut discussed his victory in a Norwegian court over Stephen Wright, the Australian computer scientist who claims to be pseudonymous Bitcoin founder Satoshi Nakamoto. (Photo courtesy of Hodlonaut)

Web3

NFT Royalties May Be ‘Dwindling,’ Galaxy Digital Researcher Says

Salmaan Qadir said NFT creators have earned upwards of $1.8 billion in royalties from secondary sales. But that number may be skewed.

Galaxy Digital Research Associate Salmaan Qadir (LinkedIn)

Tech

Web3 Developers Still Building Despite Crypto Winter

Jason Shah, a product manager at Alchemy, a Web3 development platform, told CoinDesk TV that the pace is actually increasing.

(Guilherme Cunha/Unsplash)

Tech

DeFi Exchange Mango's $114M Exploit Was 'Market Manipulation,' Not a Hack, Ex-FBI Special Agent Says

Chris Tarbell, co-founder of crypto investigative firm Naxo, discusses why the theft was more about manipulating the platform's native token than hacking the system.

Chris Tarbell (Naxo Labs)

Tech

Blockchain Technology Could Be ‘Massive Disruptor’ for TradFi, Says Franklin Templeton CEO

Jenny Johnson, president and CEO of the capital markets giant, joined CoinDesk TV live from I.D.E.A.S. 2022 in New York City to discuss the firm’s outlook on blockchain technology and the launch of its crypto-focused separately managed accounts.

Franklin Templeton CEO Jenny Johnson (Franklin Templeton)

Finance

CBDC Development Necessary for US to Remain Competitive, says Congressman

U.S. Rep. Jim Himes joined CoinDesk TV’s “First Mover” live from I.D.E.A.S. 2022 in New York City to discuss why the U.S. should consider moving forward with a central bank digital currency.

Congressman James Himes (Joshua Roberts-Pool/Getty Images)

Tech

Bridge Security Is ‘Unresolved Technical Challenge,’ Chainalysis Research Director Says

Kimberly Grauer said on CoinDesk TV's “First Mover” program that industry figures must work together to make the software safer.

Kim Grauer, director of research at Chainalysis (Chainalysis)