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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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The Protocol Wide
The Protocol
The protocol
Morpho Labs CEO Examines Drawbacks in Current DeFi Risk Management
Paul Frambot discusses the future of DeFi and the potential for widespread adoption.
The Protocol Wide
By Bradley KeounMargaux NijkerkSam Kessler
Mar 7, 2024 at 8:49 p.m. UTC
Mar 7, 2024
The ProtocolTechDevelopersCryptoEthereum
Sahara co-founders Tyler Zhou and Sean Ren (Sahara)
Technology
Ai
USC Professor's Crypto Startup 'Sahara' Raises $6M to Reward AI Trainers
Sahara co-founder Sean Ren, a computer science professor at the University of Southern California, says his tech can help workers and businesses get compensated for their know...
Sahara co-founders Tyler Zhou and Sean Ren (Sahara)
By Sam Kessler
Mar 5, 2024 at 5:01 p.m. UTC
Mar 5, 2024
AIOpen aiChatgptAcademic ResearchCaliforniaPolychain CapitalFundraise
Yes, you saw that right: It's the Polkadot booth at the Ethereum-focused ETHDenver conference. (Sam Kessler)
Technology
Conferences
Bitcoiners, Solana Acolytes Crash Ethereum Conference in Denver – for a Reason
Last week's ETHDenver conference drew a significant presence from developers and reps of blockchain ecosystems beyond Ethereum, taken as a sign of just how influential the sec...
Yes, you saw that right: It's the Polkadot booth at the Ethereum-focused ETHDenver conference. (Sam Kessler)
By Sam Kessler
Mar 5, 2024 at 2:35 p.m. UTC
Mar 5, 2024
ConferencesETHDenverEthereumBitcoinPolkadotSolana
The Protocol Wide
The Protocol
The protocol
Jesse Pollak Discusses Base, Optimism, and the Evolving Landscape of Layer 2 Solutions
A Preview to ETH Denver, hosts delve into strategies aimed at democratizing Ethereum accessibility for all attendees, ensuring inclusivity across the community.
The Protocol Wide
By Bradley KeounMargaux NijkerkSam Kessler
Feb 29, 2024 at 8:01 p.m. UTC
Feb 29, 2024
The ProtocolTechDevelopersCryptoEthereum
Gauntlet CEO Tarun Chitra (Gauntlet)
Technology
Gauntlet
Days After Ditching Aave, Risk Manager Gauntlet Moves to Rival Lender Morpho
According to Gauntlet, the move offers the potential for more money with greater flexibility.
Gauntlet CEO Tarun Chitra (Gauntlet)
By Sam Kessler
Feb 27, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. UTC
Feb 27, 2024
GauntletAaveRiskMorpho labs
The Protocol Wide
The Protocol
The protocol
Are We Ready for the Speculative Frenzy? Airdrop Controversies, Smart Contracts, and Liquid Restaking Critiques
Ether.fi CEO Mike Silagadze joins as Guest Host to discuss the controversies and issues surrounding the Starknet airdrop, the phased rollout of Soroban smart contracts on the...
The Protocol Wide
By Bradley KeounMargaux NijkerkSam Kessler
Feb 22, 2024 at 11:42 p.m. UTC
Feb 22, 2024
The ProtocolTechDevelopersCryptoEthereum
Risk Profit Loss Dice Charts Markets (Gino Crescoli/Pixabay)
Technology
Aave
Risk Manager Gauntlet Terminates Relationship with Aave, Citing DAO Dysfunction
Gauntlet co-founder John Morrow said his team "found it difficult to navigate the inconsistent guidelines and unwritten objectives" of Aave's "largest stakeholders."
Risk Profit Loss Dice Charts Markets (Gino Crescoli/Pixabay)
By Sam Kessler
Feb 22, 2024 at 12:01 a.m. UTC
Feb 22, 2024
AaveDAOGauntletRiskRisk Management
Citrea says its zero-knowledge rollup will help expand Bitcoin's ability to accommodate NFTs and DeFi. (Unsplash modified by CoinDesk)
Technology
Bitcoin Zero-Knowledge Rollup Citrea Raises $2.7M in Seed Funding
Citrea says it plans to use zero-knowledge cryptography to help grow Bitcoin's budding decentralized finance (DeFi) and NFT ecosystems.
Citrea says its zero-knowledge rollup will help expand Bitcoin's ability to accommodate NFTs and DeFi. (Unsplash modified by CoinDesk)
By Sam Kessler
Feb 21, 2024 at 5:30 p.m. UTC
Feb 21, 2024
Crypto projects are offering "points" to lure in new users. (Sigmund/Unsplash)
Technology
As Crypto 'Points' Farming Grows, So Does Risk of Vague Promises
Liquid restaking protocols based on EigenLayer are offering "point" incentives attached to the vague prospect of future airdrops, but the trend carries risks.
Crypto projects are offering "points" to lure in new users. (Sigmund/Unsplash)
By Sam Kessler
Feb 21, 2024 at 3:29 p.m. UTC
Feb 21, 2024
Puffer has reached a milestone $1B in deposits within 3 weeks of its launch. (Stelio Puccinelli/Unsplash)
Technology
Restaking
Liquid Restaking Protocol Puffer Rakes in $1B in Deposits in Just 3 Weeks
Liquid restaking protocols are seeing ample demand from users as speculation mounts over potential applications for the Ethereum restaking juggernaut EigenLayer, and the pros...
Puffer has reached a milestone $1B in deposits within 3 weeks of its launch. (Stelio Puccinelli/Unsplash)
By Sam Kessler
Feb 20, 2024 at 6:25 p.m. UTC
Feb 20, 2024
RestakingEigenLayerLiquid stakingEthereum