Jesse Hamilton

Jesse Hamilton is CoinDesk's deputy managing editor on the Global Policy and Regulation team, based in Washington, D.C. Before joining CoinDesk in 2022, he worked for more than a decade covering Wall Street regulation at Bloomberg News and Businessweek, writing about the early whisperings among federal agencies trying to decide what to do about crypto. He’s won several national honors in his reporting career, including from his time as a war correspondent in Iraq and as a police reporter for newspapers. Jesse is a graduate of Western Washington University, where he studied journalism and history. He has no crypto holdings.

Jesse Hamilton

Latest from Jesse Hamilton


Policy

Ripple Drops Another $25M Into Crypto PAC to Sway 2026 Congressional Races

From Ripple, Coinbase and a16z, Fairshake has amassed $73 million in campaign funds for the next election cycle, on top of $30 million held over from 2024.

Brad Garlinghouse, the CEO of Ripple Labs (Jesse Hamilton/CoinDesk)

Policy

Tornado Cash Sanctions Overturned by U.S. Appeals Court; TORN Soars Over 500%

The decision answers the controversial debate over whether the crypto-mixing service, which anonymizes transactions, can be banned for its use by criminals.

A 2022 protest demonstrates the long fight over Tornado Cash, including the arrest of developer Alexey Pertsev. (Jack Schickler/CoinDesk)

Policy

Crypto Gains Let Poor People Buy Houses, U.S. Research Finds, But Risks May Lurk

The Treasury Department's research arm was looking for dangers in crypto households amping up their debt, but they found people buying houses with few problems.

Rooftops of homes

Policy

Another SEC Democrat to Drop Out, Leaving Republicans Running Agency by February

Commissioner Jaime Lizárraga, a Democrat, said he'll join Chair Gary Gensler in exiting the U.S. securities regulator, which will leave two Republicans and a single Democrat.

The sudden resignation announcement of another Democrat from the Securities and Exchange Commission, Jaime Lizárraga, could give Republicans a boost as they weigh policy shifts there. (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission)

Policy

U.S. SEC Loses Crypto Lawsuit Over 'Dealer' Definition That Pushed Into Crypto

A Texas federal court ruled that the regulator's new dealer definition that roped in crypto entities was "untethered" to U.S. securities law.

A U.S. court in Texas ordered the SEC to yank a rule that it says unlawfully roped in crypto firms. (Hans Watson/Flickr)

Policy

Crypto Foe and SEC Chair Gary Gensler Will Quit When Trump Takes Office

Gensler's plan to fully leave the commission — not just step down as chairman — on Jan. 20 answers the major question of whether he'd stick around to defend his policies until his term ends in 2026.

SEC Chair Gary Gensler (Nikhilesh De/CoinDesk)

Policy

Bitfinex Hack Launderer Heather 'Razzlekhan' Morgan Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison

In the theft of bitcoin from Bitfinex — worth about $9 billion in today's prices — Morgan's 18 months followed the five-year sentencing of her husband last week.

Heather "Razzlekhan" Morgan, from her video "Rap Anthem for Misfits & Weirdos: Versace Bedouin Music Video (2019)" (Razzlekhan on YouTube)

Policy

U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren Rises Into Role Where Crypto Sector Won't Shake Her

Warren will be the top Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee that crypto legislation must clear – the most senior role for the opposition party on digital assets matters.

Senator Elizabeth Warren, Congress' most dedicated critic of the crypto sector, will have a prominent role with crypto legislation. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Policy

Crypto Is a Clear Winner With Trump as GOP Takes Senate, Sherrod Brown Loses and Gensler Likely Heading for Door

Even before Donald Trump secured the U.S. presidency, the industry had already scored huge, getting many new allies in Congress and a serious Senate hurdle removed.

Whether or not former U.S. President Donald Trump returns to the White House, crypto already won big in this election.  (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)