PlayIconNav
Crypto Prices CoinDesk 20 Index CoinDesk 20 Index

Sam Kessler

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.

Social

Recent

The DOJ announced the first charges tied to MEV. (Shutterstock)
Policy
Mev
Brothers Accused of $25M Ethereum Exploit as U.S. Reveals Fraud Charges
The alleged 12-second attack related to the controversial practice known as MEV, or maximal extractable value.
The DOJ announced the first charges tied to MEV. (Shutterstock)
By Sam KesslerNikhilesh De
May 15, 2024 at 4:24 p.m. UTC
May 15, 2024
MEVExploitDOJEthereum
Internal documents obtained by CoinDesk describe the setup of the new project. (Symbiotic)
Technology
Restaking
Lido Co-Founders, Paradigm Secretly Back EigenLayer Competitor as DeFi Battle Lines Form
The popularity of new blockchain "restaking" protocols led by EigenLayer has drawn a response from the principals behind the liquid staking platform Lido, which itself burst o...
Internal documents obtained by CoinDesk describe the setup of the new project. (Symbiotic)
By Sam Kessler
May 14, 2024 at 10:32 p.m. UTC
May 14, 2024
RestakingEigenLayerLidoStakingEthereumParadigmExclusive
The Protocol Wide
The Protocol
The protocol
Blockchain Fundraising's New Frontier of Node Sales
Node sales are becoming a popular fundraising method in the blockchain industry, where projects sell nodes instead of tokens or equity.
The Protocol Wide
By Bradley KeounMargaux NijkerkSam Kessler
May 13, 2024 at 4:01 a.m. UTC
May 13, 2024
The ProtocolTechDevelopersCryptoEthereum
EigenLayer CEO Sreeram Kannan. (Bradley Keoun)
Technology
Eigenlayer
EigenLayer Opens Claims for Airdrop of EIGEN Token, Though It's Non-Transferable
The much-hyped restaking project initiated its long-awaited though highly controversial plan to distribute EIGEN tokens, by opening a window of time where eligible users can c...
EigenLayer CEO Sreeram Kannan. (Bradley Keoun)
By Sam Kessler
May 10, 2024 at 5:12 p.m. UTC
May 10, 2024
EigenLayerairdropRestaking
Crypto projects are offering "points" to lure in new users. (Sigmund/Unsplash)
Technology
Eigenlayer
EigenLayer's EIGEN Airdrop Might Signal Demise of Once-Popular 'Points'
EIGEN's airdrop comes after a wave of criticism of its distribution plan and points program.
Crypto projects are offering "points" to lure in new users. (Sigmund/Unsplash)
By Sam Kessler
May 9, 2024 at 11:12 p.m. UTC
May 9, 2024
EigenLayerairdropEigenlabsEthereum
Eclipse founder Neel Somani has stepped back as a "public face" for the company amid sexual misconduct allegations. (Andrew Gonzalez Photography
Finance
Sexual misconduct
Sexual Misconduct Allegations Lead Founder of Ethereum Layer-2 Chain 'Eclipse' to Step Back
Neel Somani, founder of Ethereum scaling chain Eclipse, said multiple sexual misconduct allegations circulating against him on X were "false."
Eclipse founder Neel Somani has stepped back as a "public face" for the company amid sexual misconduct allegations. (Andrew Gonzalez Photography
By Sam Kessler
May 9, 2024 at 10:10 p.m. UTC
May 9, 2024
Sexual MisconductSexual Assaultlayer 2Ethereum
Lagrange is the latest crypto venture backed by PayPal co-founder Peter Theil's Founders Fund. (Rachel Sun/CoinDesk)
Technology
Zero-knowledge proofs
Thiel-Backed Cryptography Startup Lagrange Raises $13M
Lagrange, which specializes in zero-knowledge cryptography, is the latest startup to ride EigenLayer's "restaking" wave.
Lagrange is the latest crypto venture backed by PayPal co-founder Peter Theil's Founders Fund. (Rachel Sun/CoinDesk)
By Sam Kessler
May 8, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. UTC
May 8, 2024
Zero-Knowledge ProofsZero knowledgePeter ThielFounders FundEigenLayerRestakingScaling
MetaMask began previously tested a limited version of its Smart Transactions tech with the Smart Swaps feature (MetaMask, modified by CoinDesk)
Technology
Metamask
Popular Crypto Wallet MetaMask Rolls Out 'Smart Transactions' to Combat Ethereum Front-Running
It's the first step on a more ambitious roadmap to transform how Ethereum's biggest wallet works under the hood.
MetaMask began previously tested a limited version of its Smart Transactions tech with the Smart Swaps feature (MetaMask, modified by CoinDesk)
By Sam Kessler
May 6, 2024 at 1:14 p.m. UTC
May 6, 2024
MetaMaskWalletConsenSysMEVEthereum
The U.S. Department of Justice charged Cred's executives with wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and related charges. (Getty Images).
Policy
Regulations
Former Cred Executives Indicted on Wire Fraud, Other Charges
The defunct crypto lender filed for bankruptcy in 2020.
The U.S. Department of Justice charged Cred's executives with wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and related charges. (Getty Images).
By Sam KesslerNikhilesh De
May 3, 2024 at 10:14 p.m. UTC
May 3, 2024
RegulationsCredBankruptcyU.S. Department of Justice
The Protocol Wide
The Protocol
The protocol
High Stakes | Intense Competition Among Layer Two Solutions
The battle for supremacy among layer two solutions in crypto has projects vying to showcase their tech. Despite criticism, airdrops and token launches by Ren and Eigenlayer ha...
The Protocol Wide
By Bradley KeounMargaux NijkerkSam Kessler
May 2, 2024 at 9:44 p.m. UTC
May 2, 2024
The ProtocolTechDevelopersCryptoEthereum