Featured Stories on the State of Crypto

Brian Beute got into politics motivated to root out fraud in Seminole County, Florida. While he lost his first election cycle, his principal opponent is behind bars. (Brian Beute/X)

How a Crypto Fraud Gave Florida Its First Forward Party Candidate

Brian Beute is running for office under the pro-tech political party founded by Andrew Yang. While not a supporter of crypto, his story shows crypto — now a widespread phenome...

Brian Beute got into politics motivated to root out fraud in Seminole County, Florida. While he lost his first election cycle, his principal opponent is behind bars. (Brian Beute/X)
Coinbase has been sued by the SEC (Alpha Photo/Flickr)

Why Binance, Coinbase, Ripple and Other Crypto Firms Cite the ‘Major Questions’ Doctrine During Legal Imbroglios

A controversial legal doctrine meant to curb overzealous regulators has become the pièce de résistance in several of the crypto industry's arguments against SEC encroachment.

Coinbase has been sued by the SEC (Alpha Photo/Flickr)
(Jesse Hamilton/CoinDesk)

Where Is Crypto Policy Heading in a Post-FTX World?

CoinDesk’s “State of Crypto” Week looks at the prospects for digital assets legislation and regulation in Washington D.C.

(Jesse Hamilton/CoinDesk)
Former Celsius CEO Alex Mashinsky outside a courthouse in New York on July 25, 2023. (Anna Baydakova/CoinDesk)

When Bankruptcy Regulates Crypto: The Good, the Bad, and the (Really) Ugly

In the absence of specific policy, U.S. regulation of crypto has devolved to judges in bankruptcy proceedings, say Yesha Yadav and Bob Stark.

Former Celsius CEO Alex Mashinsky outside a courthouse in New York on July 25, 2023. (Anna Baydakova/CoinDesk)
(Witthaya Prasongsin/Getty Images)

Why Power Is Passing to Courts to Make US Crypto Policy

Congressional inaction, the decline of the Chevron doctrine and regulation by enforcement are decentralizing policy-making power over technologies like blockchain and AI, says...

(Witthaya Prasongsin/Getty Images)
Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) is leading efforts in the House to pass stablecoin legislation (Suzanne Cordeiro/Shutterstock/CoinDesk).

The Stablecoin Bill Is a Vital Upgrade for US Financial Plumbing

The Clarity for Payment Stablecoins bill is sensible legislation for technology that could help millions of people, says Circle’s Heath Tarbert, the former chair of the U.S. C...

Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) is leading efforts in the House to pass stablecoin legislation (Suzanne Cordeiro/Shutterstock/CoinDesk).
The U.S. Congress (buschap/Flickr)

‘Elizabeth Warren Chalked the Field’: Former Congressmen Tim Ryan (D) and David McIntosh (R) on the Prospects for Crypto Legislation Before the Election

David McIntosh says the SEC’s approach to crypto “makes the consumer and the investor much more vulnerable.”

The U.S. Congress (buschap/Flickr)

Leading Opinions on the State of Crypto

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Regulatory Clarity Won’t Bring an End to Crypto Risk

Even comprehensive crypto legislation won’t stop people from making bad investment decisions, says EY's blockchain leader.

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Rep. Patrick McHenry, temporary speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, is a longtime supporter of crypto legislation, including the Clarity for Stablecoins Act. (Jesse Hamilton/CoinDesk)

The U.S. Risks Its Position as a Stablecoin Leader

USD stablecoin transactions are rising fast, but most of the growth is happening outside of the United States, says Jason Somensatto, Head of North America Policy at Chainalys...

Rep. Patrick McHenry, temporary speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, is a longtime supporter of crypto legislation, including the Clarity for Stablecoins Act. (Jesse Hamilton/CoinDesk)
(Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images)

How Economic Policy and Geopolitical Uncertainty Could Affect Crypto Markets

Absent regulatory approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs, the leading cryptocurrency is likely to remain a speculative asset rather than a true safe-haven asset.

(Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images)
Cloudburst CEO Evan Kohlmann argues current investigatory techniques may be over-reliant on blockchain data, (Evan Kohlmann, modified by CoinDesk)

Unraveling the Dark Side of Crypto

Terrorist financing expert Evan Kohlmann argues on-chain intelligence-gathering should not be relegated to telling us only after the fact about avoidable risks.

Cloudburst CEO Evan Kohlmann argues current investigatory techniques may be over-reliant on blockchain data, (Evan Kohlmann, modified by CoinDesk)
(Chip Vincent/Unsplash, modified by CoinDesk)

For DeFi to Flourish, Right-Size the Regulators

'If it was possible to replace the SEC with code, I would in a heartbeat," Thesis CEO Matt Luongo writes.

(Chip Vincent/Unsplash, modified by CoinDesk)
(Mathieu Stern/Unsplash, modified by CoinDesk)

U.S. Risks Unleashing Second 'Eurodollar' Market if It Dallies on Stablecoin Regulation

Europe's regulatory certainty may attract the USD stablecoin market, Jón Egilsson, former chair of the Icelandic Central Bank and co-founder of Monerium, writes.

(Mathieu Stern/Unsplash, modified by CoinDesk)
paypal logo on a smartphone booting up the payments app (Marques Thomas/Unsplash, modified by CoinDesk)

What Crypto Can Learn From Regulatory Overhauls at PayPal, Robinhood and Revolut

Regulatory oversight is a force of legitimacy and stability for businesses with new ideas, Flowdesk's Anne-Sophie Cissey writes.

paypal logo on a smartphone booting up the payments app (Marques Thomas/Unsplash, modified by CoinDesk)
The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission would be granted far-reaching authority over crypto in a new Senate bill. But does it get disclosures right? (Jesse Hamilton/CoinDesk)

It’s Time for a Purpose-Built Disclosure Framework for Crypto

Without looking at the unique attributes of crypto, it will be difficult (or even impossible) to understand and place a valuation on a crypto asset.

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission would be granted far-reaching authority over crypto in a new Senate bill. But does it get disclosures right? (Jesse Hamilton/CoinDesk)
(Witthaya Prasongsin/Getty Images)

Why Power Is Passing to Courts to Make US Crypto Policy

Congressional inaction, the decline of the Chevron doctrine and regulation by enforcement are decentralizing policy-making power over technologies like blockchain and AI, says...

(Witthaya Prasongsin/Getty Images)
Capitol Hill building, Washington DC (Darren Halstead/Unsplash, modified by CoinDesk)

Why Congress Will Be the Dollar’s Downfall

Congressional inaction is likely to cause de-dollarization as the country’s foes — and friends — move even faster to get off the U.S. dollar. Americans deserve to know what’s...

Capitol Hill building, Washington DC (Darren Halstead/Unsplash, modified by CoinDesk)
gary gensler, sec, need to resize (SEC, modified by CoinDesk)

What’s Holding Crypto Back? It’s the Founders, Not Just Regulators

Crypto companies and projects need to rethink how users interact with digital assets to build a safer, more decentralized economy, Margaret Rosenfeld, chief legal officer at C...

gary gensler, sec, need to resize (SEC, modified by CoinDesk)
Former Celsius CEO Alex Mashinsky outside a courthouse in New York on July 25, 2023. (Anna Baydakova/CoinDesk)

When Bankruptcy Regulates Crypto: The Good, the Bad, and the (Really) Ugly

In the absence of specific policy, U.S. regulation of crypto has devolved to judges in bankruptcy proceedings, say Yesha Yadav and Bob Stark.

Former Celsius CEO Alex Mashinsky outside a courthouse in New York on July 25, 2023. (Anna Baydakova/CoinDesk)
Ripple VP James Wallis argues that CBDCs are coming down the pike, meaning that user privacy needs to be considered now. (James Wallis)

Ripple VP: The Policy Considerations 'Justifying the Implementation of CBDCs'

Central bank digital currencies have nearly limitless opportunity but ultimately, mainstream adoption hinges upon usability, Ripple Vice President James Wallis writes.

Ripple VP James Wallis argues that CBDCs are coming down the pike, meaning that user privacy needs to be considered now. (James Wallis)
(Andy Feliciotti/Unsplash, modified by CoinDesk)

How Clear and Effective Crypto Regulations are Born

While the past year has seen numerous setbacks for crypto regulatory efforts, the industry's collective labor will soon bear fruit, Meanwhile CEO Zac Townsend writes.

(Andy Feliciotti/Unsplash, modified by CoinDesk)
(Jesse Hamilton/CoinDesk)

Where Is Crypto Policy Heading in a Post-FTX World?

CoinDesk’s “State of Crypto” Week looks at the prospects for digital assets legislation and regulation in Washington D.C.

(Jesse Hamilton/CoinDesk)

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