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

Dernières de Sam Kessler


Technologies

The Protocol: Another Episode in the Layer-2 Teams Drama

We take a look at what unfolded after Matter Labs’ planned to trademark the term “ZK.”

(jean wimmerlin/Unsplash/PhotoMosh)

Technologies

Did a Single Trump NFT Purchase Change Washington's Mind on Crypto?

Valentin Pletnev couldn't use his ticket for a Mar-a-Lago Trump gala, so prominent crypto figure Ryan Selkis went instead. Neither expected the U.S. policy whirlwind that followed, but even as Pletnev upgrades his DeFi platform to promote 'Yield for All,' it still won't be available in the country.

Quasar Labs co-founders Laurens Kubat and Valentin (valeyo) Pletnev (Quasar Labs)

Technologies

Protocol Village: Coinbase Launches Passkey-Based 'Smart Wallet,' Alchemy Unveils 'Rollups,' Fleek Releases Testnet

The latest in blockchain tech upgrades, funding announcements and deals. For May 28- June 7.

Scene from Protocol Village at Consensus 2023 in Austin, Texas.

Technologies

Polygon Acquires Zero-Knowledge Cryptography Firm Toposware

Sources close to the deal told CoinDesk that the company was valued at $30-50 million. The purchase means that Polygon Labs has invested over $1 billion on zero-knowledge research and acquisitions, the team shared in a press release.

Polygon Labs CEO Marc Boiron (Polygon Labs)

Technologies

Polygon Spinoff Avail Raises $43M in Series A Funding

The news comes three months after Avail, a data availability company, disclosed its $27 million seed funding round.

Avail co-founders Anurag Arjun and Prabal Banarjee (Avail)

Technologies

Who Needs an Off-Ramp? Ether.fi Plans Visa Card for Crypto Investors

The "Cash" Visa card from Ether.fi, the liquid restaking startup on Ethereum, might help crypto natives turn their decentralized finance investments into spending money.

visa, credit cards

Technologies

Plume, Layer-2 Blockchain for Real-World Assets, Pulls $10M in Seed Funding from Haun, Galaxy

Plume plans to make it possible for people to easily – and compliantly – bring real-world assets (RWAs) like real estate and collectibles onto blockchains.

Plume co-founders Eugene Shen, Chris Yin and Teddy Pornprinya (Plume)

Finance

Bitcoin Is Coming to Ethereum Stalwart MetaMask: Sources

MetaMask is a giant in the Ethereum ecosystem, but it's poised to cross one of the biggest tribal divides in crypto.

Bitcoin is coming to MetaMask (Unsplash)