Nikhilesh De

Nikhilesh De is CoinDesk's managing editor for global policy and regulation, covering regulators, lawmakers and institutions. When he's not reporting on digital assets and policy, he can be found admiring Amtrak or building LEGO trains. He owns < $50 in BTC and < $20 in ETH. He was named the Association of Cryptocurrency Journalists and Researchers' Journalist of the Year in 2020.

Recent

Sam Bankman-Fried (right) exits a Manhattan courtroom on July 26, 2023. (Nikhilesh De/CoinDesk)

Policy

Regulations

U.S. DOJ Has 'Extremely Thin' Basis for Jailing FTX's Bankman-Fried Ahead of Trial: Defense

Prosecutors moved to revoke Sam Bankman-Fried's bond release, alleging his sharing Caroline Ellison's diary with the New York Times amounts to witness tampering.

By Nikhilesh De

Aug 2, 2023 at 1:44 a.m. UTC

Aug 2, 2023

RegulationsSam Bankman-FriedFTXFTX CollapseSBF Trial

Policy

Regulations

Judge Rejects Ripple Ruling Precedent in Denying Terraform Labs' Motion to Dismiss SEC Lawsuit

Terraform Labs argued that there was no contract in the sale of UST to retail investors.

By Nikhilesh De

Jul 31, 2023 at 9:13 p.m. UTC

Jul 31, 2023

RegulationsSECterraform labsDo Kwon

Richard Heart, creator of the Hex token and PulseChain platform, in a circa 2017 YouTube video. Heart has since transitioned from his once-trademark top hat to a somewhat flashier personal style. (Richard Heart/YouTube)

Policy

Regulations

U.S. SEC Sues Richard Heart, Hex, PulseChain on Unregistered Securities, Fraud Allegations

Heart raised over $1 billion across three different unregistered securities offerings, the SEC alleged.

By Nikhilesh De

Jul 31, 2023 at 2:44 p.m. UTC

Jul 31, 2023

RegulationsPulseChainRichard Heart

Sam Bankman-Fried (right) exits the courtroom in Manhattan after a hearing on July 26, 2023. (Nikhilesh De/CoinDesk)

Policy

Regulations

Sam Bankman-Fried's Attempts to Influence Witnesses Show He Must Be Jailed Before Trial: DOJ

The DOJ filed a formal submission to a federal judge after declaring their intent to revoke his bond

By Nikhilesh De

Jul 28, 2023 at 9:39 p.m. UTC

Jul 28, 2023

RegulationsSam Bankman-FriedFTXFTX Collapsetop news

Sam Bankman-Fried (left) exits a courthouse after a hearing on July 26, 2023. (Nikhilesh De/CoinDesk)

Policy

Regulations

Sam Bankman-Fried Maybe Hasn’t Escaped Campaign Finance Charges

The Department of Justice pulled one charge, but it's still pursuing seven for trial this October – and another trial on different charges next March.

By Nikhilesh De

Jul 28, 2023 at 7:02 p.m. UTC

Jul 28, 2023

RegulationsSam Bankman-FriedFTXFTX Collapse

Binance CEO Changpeng "CZ" Zhao (CoinDesk)

Policy

Regulations

CFTC Overreached in Suing Binance, Crypto Exchange Says

Binance filed to dismiss a CFTC lawsuit alleging it offered illegal commodities trading products to U.S. residents.

By Nikhilesh De

Jul 28, 2023 at 2:26 a.m. UTC

Jul 28, 2023

RegulationsBinanceCFTClawsuits

House Agriculture Committee Chair Glenn Thompson (R-Pa.) (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Policy

Regulations

Crypto Bill Advances Out of House Agriculture Committee

The vote means both the House Financial Services and Agriculture Committees have endorsed the legislation, which aims to create federal rules for crypto.

By Nikhilesh De

Jul 27, 2023 at 6:11 p.m. UTC

Jul 27, 2023

RegulationsHouse Agriculture CommitteeGlenn ThompsonHouse Financial Services Committee

Policy

Regulations

Sam Bankman-Fried Won't Face Campaign Finance Charge, U.S. DOJ Says

The Justice Department said late Wednesday that the campaign finance charge was not included in an extradition document with The Bahamas, and so it would not proceed on the charge.

By Nikhilesh De

Jul 27, 2023 at 3:38 a.m. UTC

Jul 27, 2023

RegulationsSam Bankman-FriedFTXFTX CollapseDepartment of Justice