Ian Allison

Ian Allison

Ian Allison is a senior reporter at CoinDesk, focused on institutional and enterprise adoption of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. Prior to that, he covered fintech for the International Business Times in London and Newsweek online. He won the State Street Data and Innovation journalist of the year award in 2017, and was runner up the following year. He also earned CoinDesk an honourable mention in the 2020 SABEW Best in Business awards. His November 2022 FTX scoop, which brought down the exchange and its boss Sam Bankman-Fried, won a Polk award, Loeb award and New York Press Club award. Ian graduated from the University of Edinburgh. He holds ETH.

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close up of Mastercard logo and hologram on a payment card
DeFi Firm 1inch Introduces Web3 Debit Card in Partnership With Mastercard and Baanx
The 1inch Card will allow users to use their crypto for online and in-person purchases, and make cash withdrawals at supported ATMs through seamless crypto to fiat conversion.
close up of Mastercard logo and hologram on a payment card
Bermuda-licensed Relm Insurance unveils suite of crypto risk products (Shutterstock)
Bermuda-Licensed Relm Insurance Unveils Suite of Crypto Risk Products
As well as cyber and crime markets, Relm is offering reimbursement for losses associated with staking on the Ethereum network.
Bermuda-licensed Relm Insurance unveils suite of crypto risk products (Shutterstock)
The GK8 team
Galaxy Digital-Owned Crypto Custody Specialist GK8 Unveils Tokenization Wizard
The first client to use the tool will be a partnership between asset manager DWS, Flow Traders and Galaxy to manage a fully collateralized euro-denominated stablecoin, GK8 sai...
The GK8 team
Figure Technologies CEO Mike Cagney (CoinDesk archives)
Crypto Exchange Figure Markets Has a Plan to Democratize Finance
What appears to be another post-FTX trading-and-custody play with institutions in mind, is really all about visionary disruption.
Figure Technologies CEO Mike Cagney (CoinDesk archives)
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OKX’s Global Compliance Chief Left After Six Months
Patrick Donegan, whose LinkedIn profile says he managed a team of 300 people around the world, was at OKX from August 2023 to January 2024.
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DeFi yields (DefiLlama)
Amid Giant Crypto Rally, Hopes for Another DeFi Summer Soar
Since the approval of spot bitcoin ETFs in January, DeFi looks ascendant, triggering memories of 2020, aka DeFi Summer, when the space bustled with activity.
DeFi yields (DefiLlama)
Malta (Nick Fewings / Unsplash)
OKX Quietly Settled Regulatory 'Failings' With Malta Financial Services Authority
The 304,000 euro ($329,000) “goodwill” settlement with MFSA related to OKX’s Okcoin Europe subsidiary.
Malta (Nick Fewings / Unsplash)
HSBC's building in Hong Kong. (Christian Mueller/Shutterstock)
HSBC’s Gold Token Goes Live for Retail Investors in Hong Kong
HSBC is claiming bragging rights for being the first bank to create a blockchain-based real world asset aimed at retail investors.
HSBC's building in Hong Kong. (Christian Mueller/Shutterstock)
Marsh McLennan (Shutterstock)
Insurance Broker Marsh Introduces $825M Crypto Custody Coverage
The new insurance product will support organizations with digital assets held offline in cold storage, as well other custody solutions such as Multi-Party Computation (MPC).
Marsh McLennan (Shutterstock)
Kraken (DreamStudio/CoinDesk)
Kraken Unveils Qualified Custody for Institutions in Crypto-Friendly Wyoming
Kraken Institutional operates under the exchange’s state-chartered banking license in Wyoming, attained back in 2020.
Kraken (DreamStudio/CoinDesk)