Logo
  • News
  • Cryptocurrencies
  • Data
  • Indices
  • Research
  • Events
  • Sponsored
  • Sign In
  • Sign Up
BTC logo
BTC
$116,247.85
1.07%
ETH logo
ETH
$3,717.78
1.37%
XRP logo
XRP
$3.0467
2.32%
USDT logo
USDT
$0.9999
0.01%
BNB logo
BNB
$773.97
3.61%
SOL logo
SOL
$173.62
4.25%
USDC logo
USDC
$0.9998
0.00%
DOGE logo
DOGE
$0.2133
3.80%
TRX logo
TRX
$0.3240
3.47%
ADA logo
ADA
$0.7466
3.96%
HYPE logo
HYPE
$41.62
5.24%
SUI logo
SUI
$3.7104
3.02%
XLM logo
XLM
$0.3999
3.82%
LINK logo
LINK
$17.08
3.54%
BCH logo
BCH
$559.29
0.93%
HBAR logo
HBAR
$0.2505
3.69%
AVAX logo
AVAX
$22.79
5.31%
WBT logo
WBT
$43.29
0.92%
LEO logo
LEO
$8.9397
0.33%
LTC logo
LTC
$107.34
0.88%
BTC logo
BTC
$116,247.85
1.07%
ETH logo
ETH
$3,717.78
1.37%
XRP logo
XRP
$3.0467
2.32%
USDT logo
USDT
$0.9999
0.01%
BNB logo
BNB
$773.97
3.61%
SOL logo
SOL
$173.62
4.25%
USDC logo
USDC
$0.9998
0.00%
DOGE logo
DOGE
$0.2133
3.80%
TRX logo
TRX
$0.3240
3.47%
ADA logo
ADA
$0.7466
3.96%
HYPE logo
HYPE
$41.62
5.24%
SUI logo
SUI
$3.7104
3.02%
XLM logo
XLM
$0.3999
3.82%
LINK logo
LINK
$17.08
3.54%
BCH logo
BCH
$559.29
0.93%
HBAR logo
HBAR
$0.2505
3.69%
AVAX logo
AVAX
$22.79
5.31%
WBT logo
WBT
$43.29
0.92%
LEO logo
LEO
$8.9397
0.33%
LTC logo
LTC
$107.34
0.88%
Ad
Finance
Share this article
X iconX (Twitter)LinkedInFacebookEmail

DESK Is Back: CoinDesk Relaunches Social Token Into the Wild

After beta testing it last year, we’re rolling out DESK as an integral part of the experience at Consensus 2022 – and beyond.

By CoinDesk
Updated May 11, 2023, 4:19 p.m. Published May 23, 2022, 2:49 p.m.
jwp-player-placeholder

CoinDesk is fully launching its social token, DESK, and making it an integral part of the experience at Consensus 2022, our first in-person event since before the coronavirus pandemic.

Attendees of the June 9-12 festival in Austin, Texas, will be able to earn DESK by doing such things as picking up their badges at registration, visiting exhibitor booths or joining CoinDesk’s rebooted Discord server. The token will be redeemable at the event for merchandise (e.g., T-shirts or hoodies), food or beverages from Austin vendors that have partnered with us, non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and other rewards.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Don't miss another story.Subscribe to the Crypto Daybook Americas Newsletter today. See all newsletters
By signing up, you will receive emails about CoinDesk products and you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.

The big idea is to use tokenomics to build a loyal, engaged community by providing the audience with incentives to interact with CoinDesk’s content – and with one another. It will also give attendees who are new to crypto a way to learn about blockchain technology, including the experience of setting up and maintaining a wallet, with a relatively low-stakes, nonfinancial asset.

Read more: What Is DESK? CoinDesk’s Social Token, Explained

From testnet to mainnet

CoinDesk beta-tested DESK a year ago at Consensus 2021, a virtual event. At the time, the token ran on Rinkeby, a testnet, or experimental environment for software under development, for the Ethereum blockchain.

It was a hit with attendees, who created hundreds of wallets, claimed thousands of tokens for participating in the conference and redeemed them for NFTs and other rewards. A community spontaneously formed around the product with an unofficial Discord chat and even a nickname: the piranhas.

Read more: What DESK Says About Scarcity, Value and Money (2021)

Now, CoinDesk is relaunching DESK into the wild, with the help of partners Coinvise, Flexa, and NFTify.

The new DESK is an ERC-20 standard token on the mainnet, or live version, of the blockchain. However, to avoid congestion on Ethereum, the revamped DESK runs on Polygon. This is a sidechain, or parallel network, to Ethereum that allows more and cheaper transactions by keeping them off the primary chain. CoinDesk will cover the cost of gas, or on-chain computation fees, for DESK transactions on Polygon.

Not a financial product

Importantly, DESK is not a currency, nor is it a financial asset or investment product of any kind. CoinDesk is not using DESK to raise funds; we are not selling the tokens for money. DESK is a reward token, analogous to airline frequent-flier miles, hotel guest points and the like.

Neither does DESK purport to be fully decentralized. As the creator of the token contract, CoinDesk may adjust the supply of DESK in order to encourage spending and discourage speculation or hoarding. The company reserves the right to delete the CoinDesk account and/or blacklist addresses of users that try to list the token on exchanges or otherwise undermine the purpose of DESK.

That said, DESK is a blockchain token. Users will need to set up a crypto wallet that works with Polygon (MetaMask is a beginner-friendly option) to claim and redeem it. Subject to the possible restrictions mentioned above, users will maintain full control of their DESK and can transfer it to whomever they want.

Read more: Get Started With DESK: How to Set Up Your Wallet

What’s next?

After Consensus 2022, CoinDesk intends to expand DESK as an engagement rewards program for our broader audience, including future event attendees, readers of our flagship news service and research reports, newsletter subscribers, TV viewers and podcast listeners.

In coming weeks, CoinDesk will publish more information about DESK, including the full backstory of how and why we created it.

jwp-player-placeholder
DESKERC-20PolygonToken EconomyConsensus 2022
CoinDesk

CoinDesk is the world leader in news, prices and information on bitcoin and other digital currencies.

We cover news and analysis on the trends, price movements, technologies, companies and people in the bitcoin and digital currency world.

CoinDesk

More For You

Multisig Failures Dominate as $2B Is Lost in Web3 Hacks in the First Half

By Oliver Knight|Edited by Sheldon Reback
Jul 24, 2025
Alt

A wave of multisig-related hacks and operational misconfiguration led to catastrophic losses in the first half of 2025.

What to know:

  • Over $2 billion was lost to Web3 hacks in the first half of the year, with the first quarter alone surpassing 2024’s total.
  • Multisig wallet mismanagement and UI tampering caused the majority of major exploits.
  • Hacken urges real-time monitoring and automated controls to prevent operational failures.
Read full story
Latest Crypto News
Article image

lorem ipsum article 1

8 hours ago
CoinDesk

Multisig Failures Dominate as $2B Is Lost in Web3 Hacks in the First Half

Jul 24, 2025
JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon

Crypto Industry Asks President Trump to Stop JPMorgan’s 'Punitive Tax' on Data Access

Jul 24, 2025
WIF Experiences 11% Intraday Swing with Institutional Support Driving Recovery to $1.21 Amid Bullish Technical Signals

WIF Suffers Sharp 11% Decline Before Mounting Recovery to $1.21

Jul 23, 2025
A momentum indicator has turned green for BTC bulls. (geralt/Pixabay)

[Article test] Bitcoin Climbs to $105K; Crypto ETF Issuer Sees 35% Upside

Jul 23, 2025
(CJ/Unsplash)

[Test] Bitcoin Perp Futures Open Interest on Offshore Platforms Surges The Most Since Trump's Crypto Reserve Disclosure

Jul 21, 2025
Top Stories
JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

JPMorgan To Allow Clients To Buy Bitcoin, Says Jamie Dimon

May 19, 2025
Consensus 2025: Anthony Scaramucci, Founder, SkyBridge Capital

Scaramucci Says Bitcoin Treasury Trend Will Fade Despite Saylor’s Success

Jul 2, 2025
A barman shakes a cocktail shaker with an array of drinks bottles behind him.

Crypto Daybook Americas: Bitcoin Whiplash Shakes Market as U.S. Yield Spike Threatens Bull Run

May 19, 2025
Mike Novogratz, Galaxy founder and CEO, speaks at Consensus 2024 (CoinDesk/Shutterstock/Suzanne Cordiero)

The Bull Case for Galaxy Digital Is AI Data Centers Not Bitcoin Mining, Research Firm Says

May 19, 2025
Tokyo, Japan (Jaison Lin/Unsplash)

Metaplanet Buys Another 1,004 Bitcoin, Lifts Holdings to Over $800M Worth of BTC

May 19, 2025
A roller coaster. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Bulls and Bears Get Caught off Guard as Bitcoin Jumps to $106K, Then Falls Back to $103K

May 19, 2025

Only 2 articles remaining this month.

Sign up for free

About

  • About Us
  • Masthead
  • Careers
  • CoinDesk News
  • Crypto API Documentation
  • Blog

Contact

  • Contact Us
  • Accessibility
  • Advertise
  • Sitemap
  • System Status
Disclosure & Polices
CoinDesk is an award-winning media outlet that covers the cryptocurrency industry. Its journalists abide by a strict set of editorial policies. CoinDesk has adopted a set of principles aimed at ensuring the integrity, editorial independence and freedom from bias of its publications. CoinDesk is part of the Bullish group, which owns and invests in digital asset businesses and digital assets. CoinDesk employees, including journalists, may receive Bullish group equity-based compensation. Bullish was incubated by technology investor Block.one.
EthicsPrivacyTerms of UseCookie SettingsDo Not Sell My Info

© 2025 CoinDesk, Inc.
X icon
Sign Up
  • News
    Back to menu
    News
    • Markets
    • Finance
    • Tech
    • Policy
    • Focus
  • Cryptocurrencies
    Back to menu
    Cryptocurrencies
    • Data
      Back to menu
      Data
      • Trade Data
      • Derivatives
      • Order Book Data
      • On-Chain Data
      • API
      • Research & Insights
      • Data Catalogue
      • AI & Machine Learning
    • Indices
      Back to menu
      Indices
      • Multi-Asset Indices
      • Reference Rates
      • Strategies and Services
      • API
      • Insights & Announcements
      • Documentation & Governance
    • Research
      Back to menu
      Research
      • Events
        Back to menu
        Events
        • CoinDesk: Policy & Regulation
        • Consensus Hong Kong
        • Consensus Miami
      • Sponsored
        Back to menu
        Sponsored
        • Thought Leadership
        • Press Releases
        • CoinW
        • MEXC
        • Phemex
        • Advertise
      • Videos
        Back to menu
        Videos
        • CoinDesk Daily
        • Shorts
        • Editor's Picks
      • Podcasts
        Back to menu
        Podcasts
        • CoinDesk Podcast Network
        • Markets Daily
        • Gen C
        • Unchained with Laura Shin
        • The Mining Pod
      • Newsletters
        Back to menu
        Newsletters
        • The Node
        • Crypto Daybook Americas
        • State of Crypto
        • Crypto Long & Short
        • Crypto for Advisors
      • Webinars
        Back to menu
        Webinars
        Select Language
        English enEspañol esFilipino filFrançais frItaliano itPortuguês pt-brРусский ruУкраїнська ukDeutsch deNederlands nl한국어 ko中文 zh