Sam Kessler

Sam is CoinDesk's deputy managing editor for tech and protocols. His reporting is focused on decentralized technology, infrastructure and governance. Sam holds a computer science degree from Harvard University, where he led the Harvard Political Review. He has a background in the technology industry and owns some ETH and BTC. Sam was part of the team that won a 2023 Gerald Loeb Award for CoinDesk's coverage of Sam Bankman-Fried and the FTX collapse.

Sam Kessler

Latest from Sam Kessler


Consensus Toronto 2025 Coverage

Ethereum Backers Respond to Critics: ‘Markets Will Catch Up’

Ethereum insiders pushed back on criticism of the network’s leadership and roadmap, arguing that the ecosystem is built for long-term value.

Consensus 2025: Paul Brody, Josh Stark

Consensus Toronto 2025 Coverage

Filmmaker David Goyer Bets on Blockchain for Next Sci-Fi Franchise

The Blade and Foundation screenwriter is turning to blockchain and AI to build a community-driven sci-fi franchise, backed by Web3 startup Story Protocol.

Consensus 2025: David Goyer, Jason Zhao

Tech

Movement Labs Secretly Promised Advisers Millions in Tokens, Leaked Documents Show

Signed memos reveal that Movement Labs, a Trump-backed crypto startup, offered up to 10% of its token supply to shadow advisers through undisclosed agreements.

Movement Labs co-founders Cooper Scanlon and Rushi Manche (Movement Labs)

Tech

The Protocol: Lido Avoids Major Hack

Also: Bitcoin DeFi Blossoms, Fusaka Planning Begins, and Telegram Cracks Down on Crypto Crime Marketplace

warning light on road

Tech

Ethereum’s Next Upgrade ‘Fusaka’ Could Cut Layer-2 and Validator Costs

Developers have thus far agreed to include one technical change, "PeerDAS," designed to improve data availability.

The forthcoming Ethereum upgrade, Fusaka, is partly named after Osaka, a city in Japan (Wikipedia)

Tech

The Protocol: Ethereum’s Pectra Upgrade Finally Goes Live

Also: Bitcoin Devs Debate OP_RETURN, World Network Launches in U.S., and Aztec Testnet Launches

Pectra Upgrade Goes LIVE

Tech

Ethereum Activates ‘Pectra’ Upgrade, Raising Max Stake to 2,048 ETH

The update aims to streamline staking, enhance wallet functionality, and improve overall efficiency.

Ethereum Abstract Crystal

Markets

Movement Token Slumps 14% as Coinbase Suspends Trading

Movement's MOVE token is now in "limit-only mode" on the trading platform.

Movement Labs co-founders Cooper Scanlon and Rushi Manche (Movement Labs)

Tech

The Protocol: Inside Movement’s Token-Dump Scandal

Also: ETH Gas Limit Ceiling Proposal, Bitcoin Data Limits Debate, and Base Becomes a Stage 1 Rollup

Train Stop Motion

Tech

Inside Movement’s Token-Dump Scandal: Secret Contracts, Shadow Advisers and Hidden Middlemen

Movement, backed by Trump's World Liberty Financial, says it was duped into an agreement that experts say incentivized price manipulation.

Movement Labs co-founders Cooper Scanlon and Rushi Manche (Movement Labs)