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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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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
Recycling (Pawel Czerwinski/Unsplash)
Learn
Eigenlayer
What Is Restaking? What Is Liquid Restaking? What Is EigenLayer?
EigenLayer and similar "restaking" protocols are currently the buzziest investment in blockchain, but the technology isn't without risks.
Recycling (Pawel Czerwinski/Unsplash)
By Sam Kessler
May 2, 2024 at 4:05 p.m. UTC
May 2, 2024
EigenLayerStakingRestakingEthereumLiquid stakingLidoEigenlabs
Lybra Finance launched its version 2 test network on Arbitrum Wednesday morning. (Getty Images)
Technology
Web3 Publishing Platform Mirror Sells to Paragraph, Pivots to Social App 'Kiosk'
Mirror and Paragraphs are rivals in the Web3 publishing space, and their deal allows Mirror's team to operate as an independent company focused exclusively on social media.
Lybra Finance launched its version 2 test network on Arbitrum Wednesday morning. (Getty Images)
By Sam Kessler
May 2, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. UTC
May 2, 2024
The Protocol Wide
The Protocol
The protocol
Runes | A Degenerate Casino on the Bitcoin Blockchain Creative
Runes and Ordinals ‘Artist’ Creator, Casey Rodarmor has just invented two of the most dramatically impactful protocols in the blockchain industry's history and embraces crypto...
The Protocol Wide
By Bradley KeounMargaux NijkerkSam Kessler
Apr 25, 2024 at 10:48 p.m. UTC
Apr 25, 2024
The ProtocolTechDevelopersCryptoEthereum