Benjamin Powers

Powers is a tech reporter at Grid. Previously, he was privacy reporter at CoinDesk where he focused on data and financial privacy, information security, and digital identity. His work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Daily Beast, Rolling Stone, and the New Republic, among others. He owns bitcoin.

Benjamin Powers

Latest from Benjamin Powers


Tech

Monero-for-Bail Project Sees Increased Demand During Protests

An initiative that mines the privacy coin monero, donating cash for bail money, has seen an uptick in users since the protests started in Minnesota.

Credit: Max Bender/Unsplash

Markets

Decentralization and What Section 230 Really Means for Freedom of Speech

With U.S. President Donald Trump clashing with social media behemoth Twitter, what does the fight over “Section 230” really mean and can decentralization offer a better solution?

Markus Spiske, Ian Tuck/Unsplash, Andrew Cline/shutterstock.com, Headshots: Amy James, Nadine Strossen, Ben Powers, Michael Casey, Adam B. Levine

Markets

Ex-Yang Aide Is Running for Congress With Bitcoin and UBI on His Mind

A former Yang aide running for Congress sees Bitcoin as a liberator, New York’s BitLicense as a hindrance and universal basic income as an imperative.

Credit: Herzog Campaign

Markets

Minnesota Official Alarms Privacy Advocates With Contact Tracing Comments

Comments from Minnesota Public Safety commissioner John Harrington comparing law enforcement to contact tracing alerted privacy activists to the dangers of misusing COVID-19 health data.

Credit: Munshots/Unsplash

Markets

Meet the US Senate Candidate Who's Invested in Bitcoin Since 2013

Wyoming U.S. Senate candidate Cynthia Lummis says bitcoin's store-of-value appeal has never been stronger. So she continues to HODL.

Cynthia Lummis

Policy

In Trump Versus Twitter, Decentralized Tech May Win

Campaigners against Section 230 said Trump’s intervention might derail their cause, but it could offer an opportunity for decentralized tech.

Credit: Kon Karampelas/Unsplash

Finance

Enigma Blockchain Has a New Name and a Privacy Boost in the Works

The Enigma mainnet was rebranded the Secret Network after an on-chain proposal by the community unanimously passed on May 17.

Credit: Kristina Flour/Unsplash

Tech

'Decentralized ID at All Costs': Adviser Quits ID2020 Over Blockchain Fixation

ID2020 was moving too fast to adopt unproven technology, including distributed ledgers, for immunity passes, said prominent researcher Elizabeth Renieris.

Credit: Harshal Desai/Unsplash

Tech

Citizen App's New Contact Tracing Feature Raises Privacy Red Flags

The Citizen app, which normally fights crime, is now tracing coronavirus cases. Is your data safe with a powerful private company?

Credit: Miłosz Klinowski via Unsplash

Tech

Zoom Seeks to Deflect Privacy, Security Concerns With Keybase Buy

Zoom, the popular-by-necessity video conferencing service, has acquired Keybase in a bid to bring end-to-end encryption to its paying customers.

One of Zoom's view options. (Credit: Zoom)