CoinDesk
CoinDesk is a digital media and information brand focused on bitcoin, cryptocurrencies, blockchain technology, and digital assets.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
CoinDesk is an American digital media and information business specializing in bitcoin, cryptocurrencies, blockchain technology, and digital assets. Founded by entrepreneur Shakil Khan, the publication began operating in May 2013, when cryptocurrency news was still a small specialist field largely served by forums, technical blogs, and general technology publications. CoinDesk developed an audience by combining daily reporting with explanatory guides, market information, research, conferences, and video programming. One of the brand's early signature products was the CoinDesk Bitcoin Price Index, launched in September 2013. The index aggregated bitcoin prices from selected exchanges and became a frequently cited reference for journalists and financial-media organizations. Its methodology and exchange composition changed over time in response to liquidity, access, and reliability considerations. CoinDesk also expanded its editorial coverage beyond bitcoin to include blockchain infrastructure, decentralized finance, non-fungible tokens, regulation, venture funding, exchanges, stablecoins, and the business and political implications of digital assets. CoinDesk became part of Digital Currency Group at the beginning of 2016. During the DCG period, the business broadened its activities through acquisitions and new media products. In 2017 it acquired Lawnmower, a blockchain data and research platform. It also established CoinDesk Korea in December 2017 in cooperation with 22nd Century Media, a subsidiary of Hankyoreh, to provide blockchain news in South Korea. In 2021 CoinDesk acquired TradeBlock, a cryptocurrency data and analytics company, strengthening its market-data and institutional-information capabilities. The brand's business scope includes written journalism, market indexes and data, research reports, newsletters and guides, video programming through CoinDesk TV, and the Consensus conference franchise. CoinDesk TV has produced recurring daily and weekly programs including First Mover, The Hash, All About Bitcoin, and Word On The Block. Consensus, introduced in 2015, became an annual crypto-industry summit, with editions held in New York from 2017 through 2019, online in 2020 and 2021, and Austin from 2022 onward. CoinDesk gained particular prominence in November 2022 when reporter Ian Allison published an investigation into Alameda Research's holdings of FTX's native FTT token. The report contributed to intense market scrutiny, a run on FTX, and the exchange's subsequent liquidity crisis and bankruptcy filing. The episode demonstrated the publication's influence within the digital-asset industry, while also highlighting the risks faced by specialist media organizations whose ownership and commercial relationships are closely connected to the sector they cover. In November 2023, CoinDesk was purchased by Bullish, a cryptocurrency-focused financial technology company. The change of ownership preserved CoinDesk as a recognizable editorial and events brand but raised recurring questions about editorial independence. In December 2024, Bullish ordered the removal of an article about Tron founder Justin Sun after complaints from Sun's team. CoinDesk subsequently dismissed its three top editors, and staff members expressed concern that the events could affect the outlet's autonomy from its owner. CoinDesk therefore occupies a distinctive position: it is both an influential source of specialist journalism and an industry information provider, while its ownership structure remains an important part of how its credibility is evaluated.
History
CoinDesk began publishing in May 2013 after being founded by entrepreneur Shakil Khan. Its initial focus was bitcoin news and practical information for people entering the emerging digital-currency field. The publication launched at a time when bitcoin remained a niche technology and financial topic, and it helped establish a dedicated news category around cryptocurrency markets, blockchain development, and digital-asset businesses. In September 2013, CoinDesk introduced the CoinDesk Bitcoin Price Index. The index was designed to represent an average bitcoin price across selected exchanges. Its initial data sources included Bitstamp, BTC-e, and CampBX. Mt. Gox was not initially included because of concerns about withdrawal access for United States customers, although it was added in November 2013 after CoinDesk assessed that the exchange's risk premium had declined and that it offered additional deposit and withdrawal options. Mt. Gox was removed in February 2014 after persistent failures to satisfy the index's inclusion standards. In March 2014, the index returned to a three-exchange average with Bitfinex included. The index became a reference cited by major news organizations covering bitcoin prices and markets. CoinDesk issued its first State of Bitcoin report in February 2014. The report format was intended to summarize major cryptocurrency trends, challenges, opportunities, and developments from the preceding period. A second-quarter 2014 update reported growth in venture-capital investment in bitcoin companies and discussed the increasing flow of investment into European startups. These reports established a research and information function alongside the site's daily journalism. At the beginning of 2016, Digital Currency Group acquired CoinDesk. The transaction was reported as being valued in the range of approximately US$500,000 to US$600,000, although the figure is not used here as a current financial measure. Under DCG ownership, CoinDesk expanded its portfolio. In 2017 it acquired Lawnmower, a blockchain data and research platform. In December of that year it created CoinDesk Korea in collaboration with 22nd Century Media, a Hankyoreh subsidiary, to provide blockchain news for South Korean audiences. CoinDesk also developed large-scale programming and events. The Consensus summit began in 2015 and became an annual gathering for the cryptocurrency and blockchain industries. It was held in New York City from 2017 through 2019, moved online in 2020 and 2021 during the pandemic period, and was held in Austin, Texas from 2022. CoinDesk TV expanded the brand into live and recorded video, with programs including First Mover, The Hash, All About Bitcoin, and Word On The Block. In 2021, CoinDesk acquired TradeBlock, a cryptocurrency data analytics company. The acquisition complemented the publication's indexes, research, and institutional data activities. The brand consequently operated across journalism, market information, research, video, education, and events rather than functioning solely as a news website. CoinDesk's most consequential editorial episode occurred in 2022. On November 2, Ian Allison published a report concerning Alameda Research's substantial holdings of FTX's FTT token. The report became an important catalyst in the public examination of FTX's finances, followed by a bank run, a liquidity crisis, and FTX's filing for bankruptcy protection on November 11. The collapse made CoinDesk's investigative role especially visible within the cryptocurrency sector. In November 2023, Bullish acquired CoinDesk. The acquisition placed the media brand under the ownership of a company active in cryptocurrency financial technology. In December 2024, a dispute concerning an article about Tron founder Justin Sun led Bullish to order the article's removal after complaints from Sun's team. CoinDesk then dismissed its three top editors, and staff members publicly expressed concern about editorial autonomy. The episode became a significant issue in assessments of CoinDesk's governance, ownership, and journalistic independence.
- 2024
Editorial-independence controversy
[1]The removal of an article about Justin Sun and subsequent dismissals of three senior editors prompted concerns about CoinDesk's autonomy under Bullish ownership.
- 2023
Acquired by Bullish
[1]Bullish purchased CoinDesk in November 2023.
- 2022
FTX investigation
[1]An Ian Allison report on Alameda Research's FTT holdings preceded the FTX liquidity crisis and bankruptcy filing.
- 2021
TradeBlock acquisition
[1]CoinDesk acquired cryptocurrency data analytics firm TradeBlock.
- 2017
Lawnmower acquisition and CoinDesk Korea
[1]CoinDesk acquired Lawnmower and established CoinDesk Korea in collaboration with 22nd Century Media.
- 2016
Acquired by Digital Currency Group
[1]Digital Currency Group acquired CoinDesk at the beginning of 2016.
- 2015
Consensus begins
[1]CoinDesk launched the Consensus annual cryptocurrency and blockchain summit.
- 2014
First State of Bitcoin report
[1]CoinDesk published its first State of Bitcoin report, establishing a recurring research and industry-analysis format.
- 2013
CoinDesk begins publishing
[1]Founded by Shakil Khan, CoinDesk began publishing in May 2013 with coverage of bitcoin and digital currencies.
- 2013
Bitcoin Price Index launches
[1]CoinDesk introduced its Bitcoin Price Index, aggregating bitcoin prices from selected cryptocurrency exchanges.
Products and positioning
A specialist global media and information brand serving cryptocurrency investors, blockchain businesses, technology professionals, policymakers, and digitally focused financial audiences.
Digital news · 2013
CoinDesk digital publication
CoinDesk's core product is a specialist digital publication covering bitcoin, cryptocurrencies, blockchain networks, digital-asset companies, regulation, markets, and related technology. Its editorial output includes breaking news, investigations, explanatory journalism, interviews, analysis, and guides intended both for industry participants and readers new to digital assets.
Market data · 2013
CoinDesk Bitcoin Price Index
The CoinDesk Bitcoin Price Index is an exchange-based average intended to provide a reference bitcoin price. It was launched in 2013 and has changed its exchange constituents over time as CoinDesk assessed liquidity, reliability, market access, and compliance with index-inclusion standards.
Video media
CoinDesk TV
CoinDesk TV extends the publication into live and recorded video. Its programming has included daily and weekly shows such as First Mover, The Hash, All About Bitcoin, and Word On The Block, covering market developments, technology, policy, and industry news.
Conference · 2015
Consensus
Consensus is CoinDesk's annual cryptocurrency and blockchain summit. It brings together businesses, developers, investors, policymakers, and other participants in the digital-asset ecosystem. The event began in 2015, was held in New York from 2017 to 2019, moved online in 2020 and 2021, and was held in Austin from 2022.
Research · 2014
State of Bitcoin reports
The State of Bitcoin report series provides structured overviews of cryptocurrency trends, challenges, opportunities, investment activity, and significant developments. The first report was published in February 2014, followed by periodic updates.
Controversies
2024
Editorial independence controversy under Bullish ownership
Bullish ordered the removal of a CoinDesk article about Tron founder Justin Sun after complaints from Sun's team. Days later, CoinDesk dismissed its three top editors. Staff members raised concerns that the episode demonstrated undue owner influence over editorial decisions.
Brand decisions
2023
Sale to BullishM&ABackground
CoinDesk had operated under Digital Currency Group since 2016 and had expanded into events, video, research, and data.
Action taken
Bullish purchased CoinDesk in November 2023.
Aftermath
CoinDesk continued as a specialist media and information brand, while the relationship between its editorial operations and its crypto-industry owner became a subject of scrutiny.
2015
Creation of ConsensusOtherBackground
The expanding blockchain sector required forums for business, technical, investment, and policy discussion.
Action taken
CoinDesk established Consensus as an annual industry summit.
Aftermath
The event became a recurring part of CoinDesk's conference and events business.
2013
Launch of the Bitcoin Price IndexOtherBackground
Readers and market participants needed a consistent reference for bitcoin prices across multiple exchanges.
Action taken
CoinDesk created an exchange-price average and initially used data from Bitstamp, BTC-e, and CampBX.
Aftermath
The index became one of CoinDesk's most recognizable information products and was cited by major news organizations.
Recent events
- 2023
Bullish acquires CoinDesk[1]
M&A
Bullish purchased CoinDesk in November 2023, ending the publication's ownership by Digital Currency Group.
- 2022
CoinDesk reports on Alameda Research's FTT exposure[1]
Other
Ian Allison reported that FTX partner firm Alameda Research held a significant amount of FTX's native FTT token. The report intensified scrutiny of FTX and contributed to a run on the exchange, which filed for bankruptcy protection days later.
Sources2 sources
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