Culture


Opinion

Must Bitcoin ‘Drop Ideals’ of Decentralization to Achieve Mass Adoption?

Key management is crucial to crypto maintaining decentralization. But, as hacks and exploits have grown in number, the dream of self-custody has become more difficult to maintain.

(Kelly Sikkema/Unsplash, modified by CoinDesk)

Opinion

Are Bitcoin Developers Losing Faith in Lightning?

High-profile defections, and ongoing criticism from the community, paints a picture of a much-hyped scaling project running out of steam. But bitcoiners have always been critical of the leading scaling solution.

Has public perception of the much-hyped Lightning networks changed over the years? (Rizka/Wikimedia Commons)

Opinion

The Munchables Hack Is Way Worse Than It Seems

Apparently orchestrated from North Korea, the $63 million hack adds grist to the argument that crypto exploits pose a plausible national security risk.

Edvard Munch's "The Scream" (Art Institute of Chicago)

Opinion

Remembering ‘True Names’ Author Vernor Vinge

Known for popularizing the term “singularity,” the cypherpunk writer, who died this week, was prophetic about the age of artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency.

(Free Software Foundation/Lisa Brewster)

Opinion

Is Toxic Bitcoin Maximalism Getting Less Toxic?

As BTC gets Wall Street approval and developers build new applications on the network, bitcoiners are ditching some of their previous siege mentality.

(Nikoli Afina/Unsplash)

Consensus Magazine

Where Is Nayib Bukele Actually Storing El Salvador's Bitcoin?

Last week, the sats stacking president of the "Land of Many Volcanoes" announced he was moving thousands of the country's BTC into a bitcoin "piggy bank."

San Salvador, El Salvador (Oswaldo Martinez/Unsplash, modified by CoinDesk)

Opinion

‘Greater Fools Are Watching’: Bitcoin Is Here to Stay, Elites Admit

From the Rockefeller Foundation to Donald Trump, critics who wrote Bitcoin autopsies are now examining their own heads.

(Matthew Guay/Unsplash)

Consensus Magazine

Robert Alice Made NFT History, Now He’s Writing About It

Legendary art book publisher TASCHEN is putting out the first major survey of NFT art, while Christie's launches his new art project tonight.

"On NFTs" is the  largest art historical study on NFTs to date. (Robert Alice)

Opinion

Women Are Usually Savers Instead of Investors (Can Bitcoin Change That?)

Through mutual education, support and advocacy for equality, we can lay the foundation for a more inclusive and holistic financial future this International Women's Day.

(Alexander Grey/Unsplash, modified by CoinDesk)

Opinion

What the Warren/Satoshi Flag Moment Means

The prank was believable because even bitcoin critics like Sen. Liz Warren might have to embrace crypto voters in the wake of ETF approvals, says Daniel Kuhn.

U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren's signature on the Satoshi Nakamoto flag certificate that was flown over the United States Capitol was displayed at PubKey on Feb. 15. (	Steven Ferdman/Getty Images)