Jesse Hamilton

Jesse Hamilton is CoinDesk's deputy managing editor on the Global Policy and Regulation team, based in Washington, D.C. Before joining CoinDesk in 2022, he worked for more than a decade covering Wall Street regulation at Bloomberg News and Businessweek, writing about the early whisperings among federal agencies trying to decide what to do about crypto. He’s won several national honors in his reporting career, including from his time as a war correspondent in Iraq and as a police reporter for newspapers. Jesse is a graduate of Western Washington University, where he studied journalism and history. He has no crypto holdings.

Jesse Hamilton

Latest from Jesse Hamilton


Policy

Ex-FTX Unit LedgerX in Gray Area Beyond CFTC Proposal on Customer Funds: Commissioner

The U.S. derivatives regulator proposed a new rule for how regulated firms should invest clients' funds, but a CFTC commissioner pointed out it doesn't address LedgerX.

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission would be granted far-reaching authority over crypto trading and regulation in a new Senate bill. (Jesse Hamilton/CoinDesk)

Policy

Prisoners’ Dreams to Stash $54M in Crypto in Exotic Locales Dashed as Feds Grab It for Treasury

While convicted traffickers sought the best off-shore destination for crypto riches, U.S. authorities say they listened in and pounced on the ill-gotten gains from darknet drug sales.

The Bahamas. (A. Duarte/Flickr)

Policy

Discredited Crypto Terrorist Funding Figures Gain Fresh Life in House Hearing

Recent reports that terrorism organizations such as Hamas pocketed as much as $130 million in crypto funding have been proved incorrect but were resurrected in Congress today.

U.S. Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) cited discredited figures about crypto funding of terrorist groups at a congressional hearing, despite vigorous pushback from the industry on those stats. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Policy

Will Hashdex's 'Undeniable' Distinctions Help Win Bitcoin ETF Race? Some Analysts Think So

Hashdex's decision to use CME, a regulated exchange, per the SEC's requirement of a surveillance-sharing agreement (SSA), might set it apart from the group.

Chair Gary Gensler's U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is weighing Hashdex's ETF application, which analysts suggest could have a leg up because of its novel approach.  (Jesse Hamilton/CoinDesk)

Policy

U.S. SEC's Knock From Congressional Watchdog May Not Budge Crypto Accounting Policy

Even if the agency is forced by the GAO finding to submit its Staff Accounting Bulletin 121 to Congress for review, lawmakers probably won't strangle the policy, according to experts.

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler says the agency's court loss led to bitcoin ETF approvals. (Jesse Hamilton/CoinDesk)

Policy

Prediction Market Kalshi Sues U.S. CFTC for Denying Its Contracts for Congressional Elections

The CFTC denied a valid hedging option when it rebuffed a plan to offer event contracts for traders to bet on political outcomes, the company said.

Kalshi will have a prediction contract weighed by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. (Jesse Hamilton/CoinDesk)

Policy

SafeMoon Execs Arrested by DOJ in Fraud Investigation, Charged by SEC

Crypto company SafeMoon's CEO and chief technology officer were arrested, accused of withdrawing more than $200M to buy luxury cars and homes from funds that they told investors were "locked," according to the DOJ and the regulator.

The U.S. Department of Justice grabbed another of the men it alleges moved billions in criminal money at BTC-e.  (Jesse Hamilton/CoinDesk)

Policy

U.S. SEC Messed Up in Handling Contentious Crypto Accounting Bulletin: GAO

The Staff Accounting Bulletin 121 said customers' crypto assets in banks should be held on the banks' own balance sheets. That should have been a rule, not guidance, the GAO says, but the SEC says the policy remains unchanged in the meantime.

SEC Chair Gary Gensler in Washington on Oct. 25, 2023 (Jesse Hamilton/CoinDesk)

Policy

Coinbase-Backed Advocacy Group Enlists Crypto Masses, Raises $2M From 80,000

Stand With Crypto, the campaign that's meant to bombard lawmakers with crypto supporters in their own backyards, says it's off to a fast start (with a lot of help from Coinbase).

Just a couple of months after Coinbase launched a U.S. advocacy group for crypto enthusiasts, organizers say it's brought in $2 million and sent 16,000 messages to U.S. lawmakers. (Nikhilesh De/CoinDesk)

Policy

Do Kwon's Terraform Labs Seeks Early Court Rejection of U.S. SEC Case

The stablecoin issuer filed for summary judgment, asking the judge to toss the regulator's accusations that Do Kwon and his company engaged in a multi-billion-dollar securities fraud.

A U.S. jury began deliberating in the civil trial against Do Kwon and the company he co-founded, accused of fraud by the Securities and Exchange Commission. (CoinDesk TV and Jesse Hamilton/CoinDesk)