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


Finance

EigenLayer Lifts Staking Cap, TVL Soars Past $3B

The temporary lift comes as restaking on Ethereum is booming despite warnings from developers that it might strain the network.

EigenLayer CEO Sreeram Kannan. (Bradley Keoun)

Finance

Warning! Scammers Are Pretending to Be CoinDesk Journalists on Social Media

Real CoinDesk journalists don't ask for money. Also, please be wary of links sent from people claiming to work for us.

Elvis impersonators (Perry Knotts/Getty Images)

Tech

Inside the 'Private Mempools' Where Ethereum Traders Hide From Front-Running Bots

These private mempools – where blockchain transactions avoid the eyes of front-running "MEV" bots – promise to offer better settlement and lower fees to Ethereum users, but experts are sounding the alarm bell on some big risks.

Swimming pool water (Aquilatin/Pixabay)

Finance

Ripple's XRP Drops 5% After Executive Is Hacked, Sparking Rumors of Network Breach

Ripple Executive Chairman Chris Larsen said the stolen funds all came from his "personal XRP accounts" in response to a report from blockchain analyst ZachXBT.

Ripple (Jesse Hamilton/CoinDesk)

Tech

Vitalik Buterin Says Developers Should 'Tread Carefully' Mixing Crypto and AI

The Ethereum co-founder has warmed up on the potential intersection between AI and crypto, though he warns developers to be careful.

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin (Bradley Keoun/modified by CoinDesk)

Finance

Jack Dorsey's Block Inc. Begins Layoffs Under Previously Disclosed Plan to Cut Staff by 10%

The company plans to drastically reduce its headcount throughout 2024 through a series of layoffs and reorganizing measures.

Jack Dorsey speaks at Consensus 2018 (CoinDesk)

Tech

Lido DAO Rebukes LayerZero by Endorsing Rivals Wormhole, Axelar for Crypto Bridge

LayerZero launched a Lido stETH bridge last October without asking for Lido DAO's permission. The community responded this week by endorsing a pair of its biggest competitors.

LayerZero CEO Bryan Pellegrino at Crypto Bahamas 2022 (Danny Nelson/CoinDesk)