CoinDesk

Crypto news, data and Consensus coverage from a publication founded in 2013

Publication Founded 2013 United States
Visit coindesk.com
Our score
Good
Format NewsDataPodcastVideo
Coverage BitcoinEthereumXRPSolana+8
Access Free
Languages English
Newsletter Yes
Publishing frequency Daily

What is CoinDesk?

CoinDesk is a crypto news and market-data publication founded in 2013. It covers Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana, stablecoins, DeFi, real-world assets, ETFs, policy and institutional adoption, alongside live prices, research and the Consensus event.

Ownership and people

Shakil Khan founded CoinDesk after investing in BitPay, a bitcoin payment processor. Digital Currency Group acquired the publication in January 2016 for $550,000, and Bullish acquired it in November 2023. CoinDesk is based in the United States. Its current products include editorial coverage, data and indices, and Consensus.

Coverage and products

The site publishes breaking news, market analysis, policy reporting, technology coverage, opinion and longer features. Its Data & Indices business provides regulated reference rates and benchmark indices. Live market pages show prices and market updates, while the publication also offers original research and primers.

Newsletters include CoinDesk Headlines, Crypto Daybook Americas, State of Crypto, Crypto Long & Short, Crypto for Advisors, Tokenization Weekly and CoinDesk Insider. The podcast network publishes episodes about stablecoins and crypto regulation. Consensus has been hosted annually since 2015.

Track record

CoinDesk began publishing in May 2013 and launched the CoinDesk Bitcoin Price Index in September 2013. It acquired blockchain data and research platform Lawnmower in 2017 and cryptocurrency data analytics firm TradeBlock in 2021. Its reporting on Alameda Research’s FTT holdings on November 2, 2022, preceded the FTX liquidity crisis.

The publication’s ownership creates an editorial independence question. In December 2024, Bullish ordered an article about Tron founder Justin Sun removed, after which CoinDesk dismissed its three top editors and staff raised concerns about editorial autonomy. The site also carries sponsored thought leadership and commissioned research, including material sponsored by SG-FORGE and commissioned by Bullish.

Limits and risks

CoinDesk combines journalism with commercial data, indices, conferences and sponsored material. Its access model is free.

Founders

Shakil KhanFounder

Investor in BitPay, a bitcoin payment processor.

Best for:Daily crypto news readersCrypto market watchersDigital-asset researchersInstitutional crypto professionals

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Free access to daily crypto news and market reporting
  • Coverage spans policy, technology, finance, DeFi and institutional adoption
  • Publishes regulated reference rates and benchmark indices
  • Offers newsletters, podcasts, video and original research
  • Consensus has run annually since 2015

Cons

  • Bullish ownership creates an editorial independence concern
  • Three top editors were dismissed after a December 2024 article removal
  • Sponsored and commissioned research appears alongside editorial coverage
  • Commercial data, indices and events create potential conflicts
  • Fast market coverage can trade depth for publication speed

Our review

3.6/5
Good

CoinDesk combines frequent crypto news with market data and research, but Bullish ownership and the 2024 editorial dispute weaken its independence profile.

Accuracy3.5
Depth4.0
Independence2.5
Freshness4.5
Reading experience3.5

CoinDesk is a free crypto publication with news, market coverage, research, newsletters, podcasts, video and data products. Its coverage spans Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana, layer 1 and layer 2 networks, stablecoins, DeFi, real-world assets, ETFs, policy and institutional adoption.

The homepage carried stories published hours earlier on October 17, 2026, including coverage of crypto policy and markets. The publication also runs the CoinDesk Podcast Network and newsletters such as Daybook and Crypto for Advisors. Its Data & Indices business adds regulated reference rates and benchmark indices for professional readers.

News updates and market reports are frequent, while Focus articles, original research and the Crypto for Advisors newsletter provide longer analysis. Sponsored material is present, including research commissioned by Bullish and thought leadership sponsored by SG-FORGE. The site labels editorial and sponsored research content separately.

Ownership is the main independence trade-off. CoinDesk began publishing in 2013, was acquired by Digital Currency Group in 2016 and was acquired by Bullish in November 2023. Its reporting on Alameda Research's FTT holdings preceded the 2022 FTX liquidity crisis. In December 2024, Bullish ordered an article about Tron founder Justin Sun removed, followed by the dismissal of CoinDesk's three top editors. That episode weighs against a clean independence rating.

CoinDesk is a news and data publication, rather than a custody or exchange service.

Listings are researched and drafted with AI assistance from public sources, then checked for accuracy and readability. Spot an error? Tell us. Editorial policy.
Sources (4)

Specs

Format News, Data, Podcast, Video
Coverage Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana, Layer 1s, Layer 2s, Stablecoins, DeFi, Real-world assets, ETFs, Policy, Institutional adoption · unverified
Access Free
Languages English · unverified
Newsletter Yes
Podcast Yes
Publishing frequency Daily · unverified
Owned by Bullish · unverified
Labels sponsored content Yes · unverified

Data from the provider's website and public sources. Fees and availability change; confirm on the official site before you sign up.

Key features

Crypto news coverage

Reports on Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana, stablecoins, DeFi, real-world assets, ETFs and policy.

Market data pages

Provides live crypto prices, market updates and daily analysis across major digital assets.

Research library

Publishes original research, primers and quarterly updates for digital-asset market participants.

Newsletters

Offers CoinDesk Headlines, Crypto Daybook Americas, Crypto for Advisors and other recurring newsletters.

Podcast network

Publishes episodes on stablecoins, crypto regulation, Bitcoin and digital-asset markets.

Data and indices

Provides regulated reference rates, benchmark indices and exchange-related research through CoinDesk Data & Indices.

Consensus events

Runs the Consensus crypto summit, which CoinDesk has hosted annually since 2015.

Inside CoinDesk

Markets

The Markets section carries live market updates, price action and analysis. Recent coverage includes bitcoin and crypto-linked financial markets.

Latest News

Latest News provides current reporting across the crypto ecosystem, including finance, policy, technology and institutional adoption.

Thought Leadership

Thought Leadership contains commissioned and sponsored analysis, including material sponsored by SG-FORGE.

Newsletters

Newsletters include CoinDesk Headlines, Daybook, Crypto Daybook Americas, State of Crypto, Crypto Long & Short, Crypto for Advisors, Tokenization Weekly and CoinDesk Insider.

Featured Research

Featured Research presents original and commissioned reports on areas such as real-world assets, stablecoins and market infrastructure.

Today's Videos

Today's Videos collects current video coverage, including market updates and interviews on crypto and digital finance.

Opinion

Opinion publishes columns and outside-contributor essays on crypto policy, infrastructure, markets and related issues.

CoinDesk Podcast Network

The podcast network publishes audio episodes on crypto markets and digital assets. Listed episodes include RealFi and regulatory policy.

CoinDesk screenshots

CoinDesk homepage with cryptocurrency prices, navigation, videos, and a featured Bitcoin market article
CoinDesk homepage with cryptocurrency prices, navigation, videos, and a featured Bitcoin market article · Oct 20, 2026
Docs: CoinDesk Data API documentation introduction page with REST and WebSockets navigation and API feature descriptions
Docs: CoinDesk Data API documentation introduction page with REST and WebSockets navigation and API feature descriptions · Oct 20, 2026
Markets: CoinDesk’s Markets page lists cryptocurrency market updates, prices, and news articles
Markets: CoinDesk’s Markets page lists cryptocurrency market updates, prices, and news articles · Oct 20, 2026

What users say about CoinDesk

The replies provide very little direct feedback about CoinDesk itself. One commenter praised its reporting, while another criticized its perceived negative coverage, but no specific product strength or weakness was raised by at least two authors.

In their own words

“I actually think this is excellent reporting. Not even kidding”
X · X reply · Oct 16, 2026 · View post
“Lmao. Too much good news coming out for the XRP Ledger, so good ol Coindesk is right on que with the negative news nobody needed. 🤣”
X · X reply · Oct 16, 2026 · View post

Based on 193 X replies from the last 12 months, checked Oct 17, 2026. These are posts by users on other sites, not reviews submitted on CryptoReview.

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Funding and investors

$550KTotal raised
1Round
1Investor
  1. Acquisition Jan 2016 $550K

FAQ

Who founded CoinDesk?

Shakil Khan founded CoinDesk, which began publishing in 2013. Khan is also identified as an investor in BitPay, a bitcoin payment processor.

Is CoinDesk free to use?

CoinDesk's access model is Free. Its site provides news, market pages, videos, research and newsletter sign-ups without a listed subscription price.

Who owns CoinDesk?

Bullish owns CoinDesk after acquiring it in November 2023. CoinDesk was previously acquired by Digital Currency Group in January 2016.

Does CoinDesk hold crypto or require KYC?

CoinDesk is a publication, data and events business rather than an exchange or wallet. Its listed products do not provide crypto custody or trading accounts.

What does CoinDesk cover?

CoinDesk covers Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana, layer 1 and layer 2 networks, stablecoins, DeFi, real-world assets, ETFs, policy and institutional adoption.

Does CoinDesk publish podcasts and newsletters?

Yes. CoinDesk runs the CoinDesk Podcast Network and publishes newsletters including Daybook, CoinDesk Headlines and Crypto for Advisors.

Latest from CoinDesk on X

CoinDesk
@coindesk · 4.1M followers
Follow
UPDATE: @Binance records $3.64B in net outflows as it resumes withdrawals following the $6.3B hack, representing just 2.1% of its $171B in total assets, with @cz_binance noting “98% choose to stay.” https://t.co/QE0YEaw7hd
Image attached to the post
33 9 47 14.1K View on X
LATEST: @Circle expands CCTP to support third-party ERC-20 tokens on its @arc blockchain, letting token issuers move assets cross-chain using Circle’s burn-and-mint infrastructure without relying on separate bridges or wrapped tokens. https://t.co/ALbdRW6iq9
Image attached to the post
50 9 59 18K View on X
NEW: Tether reports $1.5 billion in Q3 profit, bringing its total earnings to $4.5 billion for the first nine months of 2026.

The USDT issuer's excess reserves nearly doubled to $7.95 billion, while its U.S. Treasury holdings reached $132.4 billion. https://t.co/zA3bs03Jgq
Image attached to the post
85 33 203 41K View on X
Join CoinDesk's @nikhileshde alongside @JBSDC, @RonwHammond and @Jessi_inDC for a 2026 Midterm Election Preview on Nov. 2 at 12 PM ET.

Hear what the upcoming elections could mean for the future of crypto policy.

https://t.co/4f14qB0Dud
5 5 27 23.8K View on X
RESEARCH: Our new report in collaboration with @consensus2027 on the Stablecoins and Tokenized Assets landscape in APAC is now live!

Stablecoin market cap rose 1.0% to $306B from the end of December to the end of September. Adjusted monthly transfer volume grew 41.4% to $325B over the same period, lifting volume relative to market cap from 0.77x to 1.06x.
Image attached to the post
34 17 89 37.1K View on X

Recent public posts from @coindesk, shown as published. Not reviewed or endorsed by CryptoReview.

Latest from CoinDesk on Telegram

CoinDesk News
@CoinDeskGlobal · 15K subscribers
Join
The crypto reader's guide to the 2026 midterm election: State of Crypto

America is going to the polls, and the results will shape crypto legislation and regulation over the next two years. Here's what to know.
Image attached to the post
403 View on Telegram
AI agents bypassed crypto spending limits without human approval, researchers find in a new test

The researchers say any approval an agent can reach is unreliable, and they built Countersign, an app tying approval to a physical action the agent can’t fake.
Image attached to the post
517 View on Telegram
The key races to watch for the 2026 election

While crypto isn't a major issue in the 2026 election, the industry will be shaped by who takes office in January. Here are the main races CoinDesk is tracking.
Image attached to the post
511 View on Telegram
Crypto card startups are racking up losses just to buy your loyalty with big rewards

Providers are betting trading, lending and staking revenue can cover rewards and turn card users into profitable customers.
Image attached to the post
478 View on Telegram

Recent posts from the official Telegram channel @CoinDeskGlobal, shown as published. Not reviewed or endorsed by CryptoReview.

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