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.

Sam Kessler

Latest from Sam Kessler


Tech

Obol Labs Forms Industry Group to Push for Decentralized Validator Technology

As blockchain projects push to further decentralize, the developer Obol Labs has formed a group of companies working in the Ethereum ecosystem to concentrate on the growing field of "distributed validator technology," or DVT.

Distributed validator technology involves splitting up the job of running a validator on blockchains like Ethereum. (Onasill/Creative Commons, modified by CoinDesk using PhotoMosh)

Tech

Bitcoin Could Get Ethereum-Style Restaking as Startup Lombard Raises $16M

Lombard is partnering with staking startup Babylon to let users earn interest for "restaking" with Bitcoin – using the asset to secure other crypto networks.

Bitcoin logo (Getty Images)

Policy

SEC Sues Consensys Over MetaMask Staking, Broker Allegations

The SEC alleged that MetaMask acted as an unregistered securities broker and that its staking service violated securities laws.

Joe Lubin, founder and CEO of Consensys. (Shutterstock/CoinDesk/Suzanne Cordiero)

Tech

Solana Adds 'Blinks' and 'Actions' so Users Can Trade Crypto on Their Favorite Social Apps

The epicenter of the latest "meme coin" hype, Solana is introducing new tools designed to make crypto trading more accessible

(Matt Cardy/Getty Images, modified by CoinDesk)

Tech

Protocol Village: Aethir, for Sourcing GPUs, Launches Decentralized Cloud on Ethereum

The latest in blockchain tech upgrades, funding announcements and deals. For June 10 - June 12.

Scene from Protocol Village at Consensus 2023 in Austin, Texas.

Tech

MetaMask Adds 'Pooled Staking' for Cheaper Ethereum Validation

The new feature aims to expand the accessibility of staking, which previously required an investment north of $100,000. But the project is still missing features offered by other staking platforms.

Joe Lubin, Founder and CEO of Consensys, MetaMask's developer, speaks at Consensus 2024 by CoinDesk. (Shutterstock/CoinDesk/Suzanne Cordiero)

Tech

Polygon Creates New Grants Program, 1B POL Unlocked Over 10 Years

The program will tap into funds made available by Polygon’s Community Treasury, and the team shared that roughly 100 million POL tokens will be given out each year.

Polygon co-founder Sandeep Nailwal (Danny Nelson/CoinDesk)

Tech

Lido Introduces 'Restaking Vaults' in Collaboration with Symbiotic, Mellow Finance

The launch comes after restaking platform EigenLayer started to threaten Lido's dominance in Ethereum DeFi.

Lido's boosters say it has helped keep Etheruem staking from falling into the hands of a few large actors. (Image by Mason Webb)