Jesse Hamilton

Jesse Hamilton is CoinDesk's deputy managing editor on the Global Policy and Regulation team, based in Washington, D.C. Before joining CoinDesk in 2022, he worked for more than a decade covering Wall Street regulation at Bloomberg News and Businessweek, writing about the early whisperings among federal agencies trying to decide what to do about crypto. He’s won several national honors in his reporting career, including from his time as a war correspondent in Iraq and as a police reporter for newspapers. Jesse is a graduate of Western Washington University, where he studied journalism and history. He has no crypto holdings.

Jesse Hamilton

Latest from Jesse Hamilton


Policy

SEC’s Gensler Throws More Crypto Punches in Congressional Hearing

Gary Gensler, while avoiding answers on bitcoin ETFs, argues in testimony that crypto firms dangerously mix assets in a way outlawed in other corners of the financial system.

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler peppered the crypto industry with criticisms in congressional testimony.  (Courtesy of the House Financial Services Committee)

Policy

SEC Extends Ark, Global X ETF Deadlines as Government Shutdown Looms

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission moved earlier than required to extend a couple of deadlines in the pile of spot bitcoin ETF applications awaiting responses.

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has postponed spot bitcoin ETF responses for two applicants.  (Jesse Hamilton/CoinDesk)

Policy

U.S. House Lawmakers Push SEC’s Gensler to Approve Spot Bitcoin ETF ‘Immediately’

Members of the House Financial Services Committee – two from each party – wrote a letter to Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler urging ETF action.

Lawmakers from both parties are urging U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler to move on approving a spot bitcoin ETF. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Policy

Overcrowded, No Heat, Little Light: Inside SBF's Prison Digs

The former CEO who founded FTX, Sam Bankman-Fried, is probably not having a great time as he awaits his criminal trial in federal court.

SBF Trial Newsletter Graphic

Policy

U.S. Shutdown, Assuming It Doesn’t Run Long, Will Slow, Not Cripple Crypto Efforts

Experts suggest that the courts and the SEC will keep rolling if the government is shuttered, but an already sluggish interaction with federal officials may be slowed even further.

Sheila Warren writes Sam Bankman-Fried's case is a "tale as old as fraud." (Jesse Hamilton/CoinDesk)

Policy

Judge Blocks Sam Bankman-Fried's Proposed Witnesses From Testifying

SBF's defense can try again to put some of the FTX founder's witnesses on the stand, though the U.S. Justice Department may still object, Judge Lewis Kaplan wrote.

Sam Bankman-Fried outside court in July 2023. (Nikhilesh De/CoinDesk)

Policy

Ex-Senator Who Once Shepherded Crypto Legislation Sees No Path in Current Congress

Former Sen. Pat Toomey is pessimistic about legislation moving through this term, but it may be more likely in the next Congress.

Former Republican Sec. Patrick Toomey says he doesn't think the current Senate is able to pass crypto legislation. (Suzanne Cordeiro/Shutterstock/CoinDesk)

Policy

U.S. CBDC Efforts Opposed in Legislation Advanced by House Republicans

The House Financial Services Committee approved a bill meant to prevent a U.S. central bank digital currency.

Key U.S. lawmakers met Thursday to talk about how to advance stablecoin legislation. (Jesse Hamilton/CoinDesk)

Policy

SEC’s Crypto Enforcement Chief Warns More Charges Coming to Exchanges, DeFi

David Hirsch, who runs the agency’s office that handles crypto enforcement, says that apart from Coinbase and Binance, there are other exchanges and DeFi straying from the law.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under Chair Gary Gensler has waged an enforcement battle against the crypto industry that shows no sign of letting up. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Policy

‘I Just Want to Keep Things Moving’: Judge Makes No Ruling in SEC-Binance Document Dispute

Judge Zia Faruqui did not make any rulings on the SEC's discovery requests or Binance.US's opposition.

D.C. District courthouse (Jesse Hamilton/CoinDesk)