Helene Braun

Helene is a New York-based markets reporter at CoinDesk, covering the latest news from Wall Street, the rise of the spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds and updates on crypto markets. She is a graduate of New York University's business and economic reporting program and has appeared on CBS News, YahooFinance and Nasdaq TradeTalks. She holds BTC and ETH.

Helene Braun

Latest from Helene Braun


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Bahamian Prime Minister Asked Sam Bankman-Fried to Give His Son Advice on NFT Project

An email mentioning NFTs from Philip Davis was presented in court on Tuesday as part of prosecutors’ fraud case against the FTX founder.

Bahamian Prime Minister Philip Davis, right, meets Pope Francis (Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images)

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SBF Trial: Crypto Lender BlockFi Believed Alameda Was Solvent Given Balance Sheet It Was Shown, CEO Testifies

BlockFi lost “a little over a billion dollars” due to its involvement with FTX and Alameda Research, Zac Prince said.

BlockFi CEO Zac Prince (right) (Danny Nelson/CoinDesk)

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SBF Trial: Defense Counsel's Cross-Examination of Star Prosecution Witness Meandered

Mark Cohen bumbled at times, asking Caroline Ellison to repeat much of the same information she told prosecutors in testimony the day before.

Ex-Alameda CEO Caroline Ellison at the federal courthouse in Manhattan (Danny Nelson/CoinDesk)

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Chinese Bribes, Thai Prostitutes and an End to the Lies: Caroline Ellison’s Explosive Second Day of Testimony Against Sam Bankman-Fried

The former Alameda Research CEO wept on the witness stand during her second day of testimony in Sam Bankman-Fried's fraud trial.

Caroline Ellison, the government's star witness in their case against FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried, leaving court on Tuesday, Oct. 11 following her first day of testimony. (Danny Nelson/CoinDesk)

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Star Witness Caroline Ellison Says Sam Bankman-Fried Directed Her to Commit Fraud

“I sent balance sheets at the direction of Sam [Bankman-Fried] that made Alameda’s balances look less risky to investors,” Ellison testified.

Ex-Alameda CEO Caroline Ellison exits the courthouse after testifying in Sam Bankman-Fried's trial on Oct. 10, 2023 (Elizabeth Napolitano/CoinDesk)

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The DOJ Has Come Out Swinging in the Sam Bankman-Fried Trial

Alameda owed FTX $11 billion it didn’t have.

SBF Trial Newsletter Graphic

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Former Alameda Research CEO Caroline Ellison to Testify Tuesday in Sam Bankman-Fried Trial

Gary Wang, a former top lieutenant in Bankman-Fried’s empire, testified that Alameda had “special privileges” at FTX that allowed the hedge fund to spend $8 billion of exchange customers’ money.

Sam Bankman-Fried (Liz Napolitano/CoinDesk)

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Sam Bankman-Fried, Other FTX Execs Committed Financial Crimes, Co-Founder Wang Testifies

Gary Wang, the former chief technology officer and co-founder of FTX, told a jury that he, Bankman-Fried and fellow former executives Caroline Ellison and Nishad Singh committed multiple forms of fraud.

Matt Huang of Paradigm arrives in court on Thursday, Oct. 5 to testify against Sam Bankman-Fried (Danny Nelson/CoinDesk).

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Sam Bankman-Fried ‘Lied,’ DOJ Tells Jury; Defense Tries to Pin FTX Collapse on Caroline Ellison

“He poured money – other people’s money – into investments to make himself even richer,” the prosecutor said in opening arguments.

Sam Bankman-Fried  (Liz Napolitano/CoinDesk)

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No Sam Bankman-Fried Jury Yet; Judge Expects to Cull 50 Prospects Quickly on Wednesday

Several prospective jurors revealed that they or loved ones lost money on crypto, including one whose brother was nearly ruined.

Sam Bankman-Fried (Nikhilesh De/CoinDesk)