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

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News Analysis

Crypto industry gave $8 million to Clarity Act lobbyists who didn't close the deal

In the first half of this year, the sector poured millions into lobbying, with most of it tied to pushing the U.S. market structure bill to a goal it never reached.

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong speaking to House Speaker Mike Johnson on July 18, 2025. (Jesse Hamilton, modified by CoinDesk)

Policy

U.S. CFTC seeks event contract definitions that may defy states' gambling claims

As it battles with states over prediction markets, the CFTC sent two related rules on swaps definitions for White House review.

U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission Chairman Mike Selig (Jesse Hamilton/CoinDesk)

News Analysis

How months of work on the Clarity Act all fell apart

Interviews with industry participants and legislative aides paint a picture of a blown bill-writing process, with sources pointing to nearly every facet of the bill's development and the debate around it as contributing factors to this month's failed vote.

Sen. Cynthia Lummis, one of the lawmakers who spearheaded the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, speaking at CoinDesk's Policy & Regulation event on Sept. 22, 2026. (Merz Photography/CoinDesk)

Policy

U.S. SEC's steadiest crypto advocate, Hester Peirce, to depart next week

The long-anticipated exit of the commissioner sometimes known as Crypto Mom is Oct. 2, announced as the agency was sending out its latest crypto work.

SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce (Nikhilesh De/CoinDesk)

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Policy

Blockchain Association sees leadership shift shortly after crypto Clarity Act fizzles

The trade group will be run again by its original CEO, Kristin Smith, when Summer Mersinger leaves at the end of a long congressional tussle.

Kristin Smith (left), Rebecca Rettig and Summer Mersinger (CoinDesk)

Policy

U.S. Federal Reserve moves on proposals to implement GENIUS Act for stablecoins

The Fed proposed rules on putting last year's GENIUS Act into place with regulations, including those governing stablecoin yield programs.

U.S. Federal Reserve Board in Washington (Jesse Hamilton/CoinDesk)

Policy

U.S. commodities firms can invest in tokenized assets, use blockchain records: CFTC

The U.S derivatives regulator is grinding away at further guidance that welcomes tokenization and blockchain recordkeeping as regular industry elements.

U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission Chairman Mike Selig (Jesse Hamilton/CoinDesk)

Policy

White House adviser defends President Trump's crypto ties in wake of Clarity Act defeat

President Donald Trump's crypto adviser, Patrick Witt, accused Democrats of unfairly amplifying Trump's crypto ties as a political weapon.

Patrick Witt, executive director of the President’s Council of Advisors for Digital Assets(Jesse Hamilton/CoinDesk)

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Policy

U.S. regulator warns about cheating risks in 'mention markets' on prediction platforms

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission issued a new advisory to flag the unique dangers of markets based on individuals' behavior.

CFTC HQ

Policy

Crypto market structure can't wait for shot at post-election Clarity Act surge: White House

White House and U.S. Treasury officials agree that despite some hope that Congress' "lame duck" session could see the bill again, the work's in regulators' hands.

White House adviser Patrick Witt, speaking at CoinDesk's Policy & Regulation event on Sept. 22, 2026. (Jesse Hamilton/CoinDesk)