Nikhilesh De

Nikhilesh De is CoinDesk's managing editor for global policy and regulation, covering regulators, lawmakers and institutions. He owns < $50 in BTC and < $20 in ETH. He won a Gerald Loeb award in the beat reporting category as part of CoinDesk's blockbuster FTX coverage in 2023, and was named the Association of Cryptocurrency Journalists and Researchers' Journalist of the Year in 2020.

Nikhilesh De

Latest from Nikhilesh De


Markets

Asset manager Bitwise sees 3 tests for crypto’s 2026 rally

Bitcoin and ether are off to a strong start this year, and Bitwise says the path to new highs hinges on market stability, U.S. legislation and calm equities.

(Yashowardhan Singh/Unsplash)

Policy

Crypto bill markup expected next week as pressure mounts before shutdown deadline

Senators met to restart the high-stakes negotiation over the crypto market structure bill, and one of them reportedly said a markup is planned next week.

Senator Scott, chairman of the Senate Banking Committee

Finance

Most new crypto tokens lost over 70% in 2025. Here is what comes next

New crypto tokens overwhelmingly lost value in 2025 as early liquidity, weak utility and misaligned distribution collided with a risk-averse market.

Hot air balloon deflated(Getty Images/Modified by CoinDesk)

Policy

A few Republicans have crypto's destiny in their hands at the SEC, CFTC

After holiday leadership shifts, the two U.S. markets regulators — the SEC and CFTC — are now run only by pro-crypto Republicans, with Congress still debating.

SEC GOP contingent

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Markets

Filecoin surges 6%, outperforms wider crypto markets

The storage token outperformed the broader crypto market during a volatile session.

"Filecoin Price Surges 6% to $1.59, Breaking Key Resistance"

Markets

Tom Lee calls for new bitcoin record in January, while warning of a volatile 2026

The Fundstrat co-founder and Bitmine chair said bitcoin has yet to peak in January and reiterated his belief that ether is ‘dramatically’ undervalued.

Tom Lee

Finance

Robinhood leaning into advanced traders as crypto volatility reshapes user behavior

The trading platform is increasingly catering to advanced crypto traders with tools tailored to active, tax-aware users, its head of crypto said.

Johann Kerbrat, GM of Robinhood Crypto (Shutterstock/CoinDesk)

Tech

Neobanks will fuel Ethereum's 2026 growth, says ether.fi CEO

Ethereum's next phase will be defined by financial products that feel familiar to everyday users, Mike Silagadze said.

Three people, including Ether.fi CEO Mike Silagadze, sit on a stage at Consensus Hong Kong 2025.

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Tech

Ethereum and Solana set the stage for 2026’s DeFi reboot

Ethereum saw a surge in institutional adoption and progress on scaling in 2025, while Solana was stress-testing the network and hardening its infrastructure.

Sunset in San Salvador. Credit: Ricky Mejia, Unsplash

Tech

Bitfinex hacker Ilya Lichtenstein credits Trump’s First Step Act for early prison release

The U.S. hacker pleaded guilty to stealing and laundering nearly 120,000 bitcoin from cryptocurrency exchange Bitfinex in 2016.

Ilya Lichtenstein, who pleaded guilty with wife Heather Morgan in the plundering of Bitfinex, is now testifying against the mixer he used. (Alexandria Sheriff's Office)