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


Tech

Polygon Readies ZK Rollup Testnet, Eyes Mainnet Launch in 2023

Polygon zkEVM, the team’s EVM-compatible ZK rollup, describes it as "major leap forward" in the world of zero-knowledge technology.

Ethereum community member Jordi Baylina speaks at the EthCC 2022 conference in Paris. (Lyllah Ledesma)

Tech

Ethereum’s Merge Projected for September According to 'Soft' Timeline

The Merge will see Ethereum switch from the energy-intensive proof-of-work consensus mechanism to a more efficient proof-of-stake system.

(Pine Watt/Unsplash)

Layer 2

What’s in Your Bear Market Backpack?

From existential dread to blissful ignorance — reactions to Ethereum’s market slump vary across the board

(pepifoto/Getty Images)

Finance

Voyager Clarifies USD Deposit Status in Update

The crypto exchange, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, says it remains unclear how customers will be reimbursed for their cryptocurrency investments.

Voyager CEO Steve Ehrlich (CoinDesk)

Finance

Cosmos-Builder Ignite Cuts Headcount by More Than 50%, Ex-Employees Say

The reductions come amid a crypto market crash, and after the return of Ignite’s controversial ex-CEO.

Ignite's future is uncertain after major staff cuts and a contentious re-organization. (Issy Bailey/ Unsplash)

Finance

Ignite CEO Peng Zhong Announces Departure Shortly After Re-Organization

Zhong’s exit comes weeks after the company’s former CEO, Jae Kwon, said he is re-joining the company as the CEO of spinoff New Tendermint.

(Unsplash/Oscar Sutton)

Finance

Nansen Report Shows Links Between Terra Collapse and stETH 'De-peg'

The report also explores how Celsius, Three Arrows Capital, and other firms were impacted by stETH's deviation from ETH.

June was a month the crypto industry would rather forget. (Adam Gault/Getty Images)

Layer 2

A Major Crypto Exchange Abandons Ethereum: Is the World’s Computer Falling Behind?

By ditching Ethereum for Cosmos, dYdX has sparked claims that it has chosen sovereignty over security.

(Allexxandar/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

Finance

BlockFi Raises Deposit Rates, Eliminates Free Withdrawals

The rate increases across BTC, ETH, USDT and other crypto deposits come after layoffs at the company and a $250 million emergency line of credit from FTX.

Crypto stocks surged after Trump's announcement rebounded the market.(Torsten Asmus/Getty images)

Tech

Crypto Exchange dYdX to Start a Standalone Blockchain

The layer 1 blockchain will be built in the Cosmos ecosystem.

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