Fran Velasquez

Fran is CoinDesk's TV writer and reporter. He is an alum of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and CUNY's Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, where he earned his master's in business and economic reporting. In the past, he has written for Borderless Magazine, CNBC Make It, and Inc. He owns no crypto holdings.

Recent

Markets

Hany rashwan

21.co CEO Sees ‘No Material’ Impact on Bitcoin Following Silvergate’s SEN Platform Closure

Hany Rashwan, co-founder of the Zug, Switzerland-based ETP provider, says bitcoin’s price is being driven by more macroeconomic factors, including inflation and East Asian tra...

By Fran Velasquez

Mar 6, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. UTC

Mar 6, 2023

Hany RashwanCoinDesk TVSilvergate BankChina

Technology

Neal Stephenson Says AI-Generated ChatGPT Is ‘Simply Not Interesting’

The author, who coined the term "metaverse" in his science-fiction novel “Snow Crash,” says the algorithm-based tool doesn't resonate the way a book written by a real person d...

By Fran Velasquez

Mar 3, 2023 at 7:06 p.m. UTC

Mar 3, 2023

AIChatgptCoinDesk TVNeal StephensonSnow CrashSotheby’s

Former NBA player Baron Davis is trying his hand in blockchain technology with an NFT-based project. (Paul Archuleta/Getty Images)

Web3

Nba

Former NBA Player Baron Davis Says Celebs Will Focus More on 'Utility' Tokens

Celebrities and athletes will be more picky about the kinds of tokens they endorse after an SEC crackdown on promotions, he said.

By Fran Velasquez

Mar 2, 2023 at 7:50 p.m. UTC

Mar 2, 2023

NBABaron DavisCoinDesk TVKim KardashianPaul pierce

Markets

Asia pacific

First Mover Asia: ConsenSys Chief Cryptoeconomist Sees Little Drama Ahead for Bitcoin

ALSO: In an appearance on CoinDesk TV, Tron founder Justin Sun discussed Huobi's potential unveiling of a new Hong Kong exchange, and said the city's evolving approach to digi...

By James Rubin Fran Velasquez

Mar 2, 2023 at 2:53 a.m. UTC

Mar 2, 2023

Asia PacificBitcoinEtherAltcoinsFirst Mover Asia

Policy

Tron

Justin Sun Says Hong Kong’s New Licensing Regime Could Shift Policy in Mainland China, Eventually

In the interim, if granted a VASP license, the Tron founder says Houbi will launch a new exchange, Huobi Hong Kong, to comply with regulators.

By Fran Velasquez

Mar 1, 2023 at 8:53 p.m. UTC

Mar 1, 2023

TronJustin SunCoinDesk TVVASPsHong KongWeb3HuobiCrypto ExchangeChina

Markets

Options insights

Crypto’s Next Move Depends on the Next Fed Rate Hike: Options Trader

Options Insights founder Imran Lakha thinks bitcoin could fall to $16,000 before rising again.

By Fran Velasquez

Feb 28, 2023 at 9:05 p.m. UTC

Feb 28, 2023

Options insightsCoinDesk TVImran lakhaBitcoin

Finance

Chainalysis

Crypto Crime Hit All-Time High of $20.6B in 2022: Chainalysis

Kim Grauer, the blockchain sleuthing firm's head of research, told CoinDesk TV sanctioned activity and hacking were the driving forces behind the rise in illicit transaction v...

By Fran Velasquez

Feb 27, 2023 at 8:41 p.m. UTC

Feb 27, 2023

ChainalysisKimberly GrauerCoinDesk TVHacksSanctionsOFAC

Chamber of Digital Commerce founder and CEO Perianne Boring (CoinDesk archives)

Policy

Coinbase

SEC’s Coinbase Insider Trading Case Is ‘Backdoor Rulemaking,’ Trade Association’s CEO Says

The regulator “piggybacked” off the Justice Department's insider trading case and is using it as a way to define some tokens as securities, Perianne Boring, the Chamber of Dig...

By Fran Velasquez

Feb 24, 2023 at 8:09 p.m. UTC

Feb 24, 2023

CoinbaseSECDigital Chamber of CommercePerianne BoringCoinDesk TVPolicy

Finance

Kraken

Kraken’s Head of OTC Options Trading: Investors Are Still Interested In Crypto, Staking

“What we’ve seen is that the trading interest remains really strong both for proof-of-work networks as well as proof-of-stake networks,” Juthica Chou told “First Mover.”

By Fran Velasquez

Feb 23, 2023 at 7:29 p.m. UTC

Feb 23, 2023

KrakenStakingCoinDesk TVInstitutional InvestorsSecurities and Exchange CommissionJuthica Chou