Analysis


Markets

Market Sees 59% Odds Sam Bankman-Fried Is Found Guilty on All Charges – But There's a Catch

Traders on crypto-powered Polymarket have bet a grand total of $4,512 on the question, underscoring the current limitations of prediction markets.

Johnny Carson making a prediction as "Carnac the Magnificent" (Getty Images)

Policy

U.S. SEC's Knock From Congressional Watchdog May Not Budge Crypto Accounting Policy

Even if the agency is forced by the GAO finding to submit its Staff Accounting Bulletin 121 to Congress for review, lawmakers probably won't strangle the policy, according to experts.

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler says the agency's court loss led to bitcoin ETF approvals. (Jesse Hamilton/CoinDesk)

Markets

Bitcoin Put Options, Which Offer Downside Protection, Look Unusually Cheap. Will the Situation Last?

Historically, puts have seldom traded at cheaper valuations for a prolonged period.

(Pixabay)

Finance

A Year After Sam Bankman-Fried's Downfall, Solana and Other FTX Holdings Are Flying High

The FTX founder's downfall began on Nov. 2, 2022 – a year ago Thursday – when CoinDesk published a big scoop. Jurors are poised to begin deliberating his fate on the anniversary of that story, at a time when the SOL tokens FTX owns just got $1 billion more valuable.

FTX logo (Adobe Firefly)

Policy

Upcoming UK Rules for Crypto Ad Approvers Spell Uncertainty for Industry

Those approving promos for unregistered crypto companies are already facing regulatory scrutiny – and will soon have to seek new permissions to continue.

Photo of people entering the FCA building

Markets

Bitcoin Could Go Crazy Above $36K, Options Data Suggests

Bitcoin options dealers or market makers are likely to trade in the direction of the market above $36,000, accelerating price gains.

Banner, header, monitor (geralt/Pixabay)

Policy

Sam Bankman-Fried's Post-Collapse Media Blitz Has Clearly Backfired

The FTX founder was grilled Monday by a prosecutor, who used the many words he said to journalists after his crypto company's collapse against him.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 30: Andrew Ross Sorkin and Sam Bankman-Fried on stage at the 2022 New York Times DealBook on November 30, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Thos Robinson/Getty Images for The New York Times)

Markets

Bitcoin Is Up 100% This Year. It's Not Just Because of Spot BTC ETF Hype

While most observers tie bitcoin's recent strength to the anticipation of a spot ETF approval, some analysts offer alternative explanations to the crypto's rise.

BTC price in 2023 (CoinDesk)

Markets

Spot Bitcoin ETF Approval Might Be Near, but Analysts Differ on Possible BTC Price Reaction

One line of thought envisions a major rally, while another suggests approval has been fully baked into prices.

Analysts differ on bitcoin's ultimate reaction to a spot ETF (Unsplash, modified by CoinDesk)

Policy

Crypto World Hopeful as California Chases BitLicense in Absence of U.S. Feds

The BitLicense axis between New York and California may draw in other jurisdictions as the states solidify their position as the only regulatory option for crypto businesses in the U.S.

Crypto insiders credit California Governor Gavin Newsom's administration as good listeners as they work on their own version of New York's BitLicense. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)