Anna Baydakova

Investigative Reporter

Anna writes about blockchain projects and regulation with a special focus on Eastern Europe and Russia. She is especially excited about stories on privacy, cybercrime, sanctions policies and censorship resistance of decentralized technologies.
She graduated from the Saint Petersburg State University and the Higher School of Economics in Russia and got her Master's degree at Columbia Journalism School in New York City.
She joined CoinDesk after years of writing for various Russian media, including the leading political outlet Novaya Gazeta.
Anna owns BTC and an NFT of sentimental value.

Latest from Anna Baydakova

Policy

What Does It Cost to Become an FCA-Approved Exchange? EXMO Execs Explain

The U.K.-registered EXMO exchange is one of the many crypto startups to go through the FCA approval process. Execs detailed the work it took to get there.

Jan 6, 2021

Markets

Russian Oil Drilling Giant Opens a Crypto Mining Farm Run on Gas Energy

Gazpromneft, a subsidiary of Russian oil and gas giant Gazprom, is opening a bitcoin mining venue on one of its oil drilling sites.

Dec 30, 2020

Markets

DeFi Christmas: DEX Aggregator 1inch Launches Governance Token to Take On Uniswap

The token, named 1INCH and running on Ethereum, will be distributed to all wallets that have previously interacted with the platform.

Dec 25, 2020

Policy

Bank of Russia Chair: Digital Ruble Is No Threat to Banks

Russian banks are concerned the digital ruble might hurt their business, but the Bank of Russia is nonchalant

Dec 21, 2020

Elvira Nabiullina, chair of the Bank of Russia

Finance

Ukraine Oligarch's Troubled US Steel Plant Has Been Quietly Mining Bitcoin: Report

The Kentucky-based CC Metals & Alloys steel plant owned by Ukrainian billionaire Ihor Kolomoisky is mining bitcoin as other activities have stopped, according to a report.

Dec 14, 2020

Markets

Meet the 19-Year-Old Ukrainian Lawmaker With Millions in Monero

A 19-year-old Rostislav Solod is a Ukrainian politician and a monero whale dreaming of launching his own token

Dec 11, 2020

Rostislav Solod, local politician in Kramatorsk, Ukraine

Policy

Putin Orders Russia's Public Officials to Report Crypto Holdings

Russian civil servants must start reporting their crypto assets as the country's first crypto law comes into force in January.

Dec 11, 2020

Markets

Ukrainian Politician Discloses Owning $24M in Privacy Coin Monero

The city council member in Kramatorsk, Ukraine, bought 185,000 XMR in 2015 when the cryptocurrency's price was well below $1.

Dec 10, 2020

Markets

BTC-e Operator Vinnik Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison on Money Laundering Charges

Alexander Vinnik, an alleged BTC-e operator, was found guilty of money laundering in France and sentenced to five years in prison.

Dec 7, 2020

Markets

Russia's Crypto Community Fears Digital Ruble Plan Means 'Back to USSR'

A Russian cryptocurrency and blockchain association warns the Bank of Russia against centralizing the digital ruble.

Dec 4, 2020

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