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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.

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Protocol Village is CoinDesk's living column chronicling blockchain tech project updates (CoinDesk)
Technology
Blockchain
Protocol Village: Food DePIN Bistroo Moves to Peaq, ApeChain Releases 'The Blueprint'
The latest in blockchain tech upgrades, funding announcements and deals. For the period of Aug. 29-Sept. 4.
Protocol Village is CoinDesk's living column chronicling blockchain tech project updates (CoinDesk)
By Bradley KeounSam Kessler
Sep 4, 2024 at 5:42 p.m. UTC
Sep 4, 2024
BlockchainEthereumBitcoinTechBlockchain TechnologyEVMProtocol Village
Eric, Donald and Donald Trump Jr. (Desiree Navarro/WireImage)
Finance
Donald trump
In Trump-Backed Crypto Project, Insiders Are Poised for Unusually Big Token Payouts
The team could get 70% of World Liberty Financial's tokens, a significantly higher-than-normal allocation from a project marketed as a solution to the “rigged” traditional fin...
Eric, Donald and Donald Trump Jr. (Desiree Navarro/WireImage)
By Sam KesslerCheyenne Ligon
Sep 4, 2024 at 3:54 p.m. UTC
Sep 4, 2024
Donald TrumpExclusive
Former President Trump is World Liberty Financial's "chief crypto advocate," according to the white paper. His sons Eric and Donald Jr. are "Web3 Ambassadors." (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Finance
Donald trump
Inside the Trump Crypto Project Linked to a $2M DeFi Hack and Former Pick-Up Artist
Four team members listed in World Liberty Financial's white paper previously worked on Dough Finance, which was drained of $2 million in July. One also founded Date Hotter Gir...
Former President Trump is World Liberty Financial's "chief crypto advocate," according to the white paper. His sons Eric and Donald Jr. are "Web3 Ambassadors." (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
By Sam KesslerDanny NelsonCheyenne Ligon
Sep 3, 2024 at 8:52 p.m. UTC
Sep 3, 2024
Donald TrumpElection 2024DeFiExclusive
The Chaos Labs team has raised $55M in Series A funding (Chaos Labs)
Technology
Risk management
Chaos Labs Raises $55M as Demand Grows for On-Chain Risk Management
The influx of capital comes as Chaos Labs, founded in 2021, looks to expand its platform, designed to address the growing need for automated risk management in decentralized f...
The Chaos Labs team has raised $55M in Series A funding (Chaos Labs)
By Sam Kessler
Aug 15, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. UTC
Aug 15, 2024
Risk ManagementRiskrisk assessmentLendingDecentralized FinanceDeFiFundraise
EigenLayer founder Sreeram Kannan at ETH Denver 2024 (Danny Nelson/CoinDesk)
Technology
Features
Top Crypto Startup Drove Other Projects' Airdrops to Its Employees
Eigen Labs circulated a list of team members' wallet addresses to EigenLayer ecosystem projects that were preparing to issue tokens. Some teams asked for it. At least one didn...
EigenLayer founder Sreeram Kannan at ETH Denver 2024 (Danny Nelson/CoinDesk)
By Sam KesslerDanny Nelson
Aug 15, 2024 at 12:33 p.m. UTC
Aug 15, 2024
FeaturesEigenlabsEigenLayerRestakingEthereumConflict of Interest
The rise of blockchain-based prediction markets has turned clairvoyance into a gambling activity. (Tomasz Lusiak/Creative Commons)
Technology
Prediction markets
Coinbase-Backed Vega Gets Into Prediction-Market Race, Chasing Polymarket
A major upgrade to Vega's blockchain and decentralized perpetuals exchange will allow users to bet on the outcomes of future events.
The rise of blockchain-based prediction markets has turned clairvoyance into a gambling activity. (Tomasz Lusiak/Creative Commons)
By Sam Kessler
Aug 8, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. UTC
Aug 8, 2024
Prediction MarketsBettingPolymarket
Protocol Village is CoinDesk's living column chronicling blockchain tech project updates (CoinDesk)
Technology
The protocol
Protocol Village: Radix Launches 'RadQuest,' Eclipse Mainnet Opens to Builders
The latest in blockchain tech upgrades, funding announcements and deals. For the period of July 25-31.
Protocol Village is CoinDesk's living column chronicling blockchain tech project updates (CoinDesk)
By Sam KesslerBradley Keoun
Jul 31, 2024 at 3:01 p.m. UTC
Jul 31, 2024
The ProtocolBlockchainEthereumBitcoinTechBlockchain TechnologyEVMProtocol Village
Ben Leventhal, Blackbird founder (Blackbird)
Technology
A16z
Blackbird, Web3 Startup From Resy Co-Founder, Wants Diners to Pay for Meals in Crypto
Blackbird Pay would allow diners to pay for their food using $FLY, the cryptocurrency that doubles as loyalty points in Blackbird's restaurant rewards system.
Ben Leventhal, Blackbird founder (Blackbird)
By Sam Kessler
Jul 30, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. UTC
Jul 30, 2024
A16zAmerican ExpressWeb3BaseCoinbaseUSDCRestaurants
Hyperbolic CEO Jasper Zhang (Hyperbolic)
Technology
Ai
Polychain, Lightspeed Lead $7M Fundraise for Math Olympian's Blockchain-Based AI Platform
Hyperbolic's blockchain-based cloud platform aims to make AI affordable to startups, researchers and builders squeezed by surging GPU prices.
Hyperbolic CEO Jasper Zhang (Hyperbolic)
By Sam Kessler
Jul 30, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. UTC
Jul 30, 2024
AICloudPolychainLightspeed
Rolled up paper (Unsplash modified by CoinDesk)
Technology
Rollup
Rollup-in-a-Box Startup Caldera Raises $15M From Peter Thiel's Venture Fund
As Ethereum's Layer-2 ecosystem booms, Caldera's "Metalayer" aims to help developers quickly launch applications across multiple networks.
Rolled up paper (Unsplash modified by CoinDesk)
By Sam Kessler
Jul 24, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. UTC
Jul 24, 2024
rollupFundraisePeter ThielFounders FunddragonflyEthereum