Charles Hoskinson, the founder of Cardano, has revived his interest in buying CoinDesk in apparent jest, after the crypto media outlet plunged deeper into chaos.
Responding to a journalist’s post on X that described CoinDesk as “in shambles,” Charles questioned the outlet’s current valuation. “Remember when we thought about buying Coindesk?” he asked. “I wonder what the price is these days.”
The drama began when Bullish, CoinDesk’s parent company, abruptly fired three top editors, including editor-in-chief Kevin Reynolds, after newsroom tensions boiled over an article on TRON founder Justin Sun.
Bullish under fire for its newsroom shake-up
Sources reportedly confirmed that Bullish dismissed Reynolds, deputy editor-in-chief Nick Baker, and ethics and standards head Marc Hochstein on Friday.
The decision followed weeks of unrest at CoinDesk, starting with the removal of an article about Justin’s purchase and staged consumption of a $6.2 million banana art installation.
The piece also covered Justin’s legal troubles though, including fraud charges from the SEC, which he disputes. According to insiders, his team pressured Bullish to take the story down, claiming the tone was damaging.
Bullish CEO Tom Farley approved the takedown without the usual retraction notice, an action that blindsided the editorial staff. The company attempted damage control by citing “cost reduction measures” as the reason for the layoffs in an email sent by CoinDesk CEO Sara Stratoberdha.
Viewed by staff and later leaked, the email claimed the restructuring would boost productivity while reaffirming the company’s commitment to journalistic independence. But few in the newsroom believed it.
A senior staffer reportedly described the firings as “devastating,” saying the trio were the “heart of the newsroom.” The same source questioned Bullish’s priorities, adding, “It’s clear they care more about pleasing sponsors than actual reporting.”
Another staff member said morale at CoinDesk is at an all-time low, with many employees actively exploring other opportunities.
The Justin debacle and its fallout
Critics say Justin’s ties to CoinDesk may have influenced the decision to pull the story. TRON is a major sponsor of Consensus, CoinDesk’s flagship conference, which is debuting in Hong Kong this year. The timing is interesting, given Bullish’s rumored plans for an initial public offering.
Matt Murray, a former Wall Street Journal editor-in-chief appointed by Bullish to oversee CoinDesk’s editorial direction, resigned in protest after the article was pulled.
By Friday, the tensions culminated in a dramatic showdown. Reynolds, Baker, and Hochstein were locked out of their Slack accounts before the company announced their dismissals. Staff were informed via email after the fact, a decision some described as “cold and calculated.”
Charles’ last CoinDesk bid
In January, Charles Hoskinson publicly considered purchasing the outlet but balked at its $200 million asking price. At the time, he argued that CoinDesk was overvalued, saying, “You could build a better, decentralized competitor for $5 to $10 million.”
Charles has long been critical of crypto journalism, accusing major outlets of bias and inaccuracy. His vision for media reform included ideas like “veracity bonds,” where outlets would stake funds on the accuracy of their reporting, losing the money if stories were proven false.
He also suggested integrating blockchain technology into news reporting. Using non-fungible tokens (NFTs), articles could become interactive “living objects.”
Once the gold standard for blockchain reporting, CoinDesk made its name exposing fraud and corruption, including its pivotal role in uncovering the FTX scandal in 2022. But under Bullish, the outlet is clearly struggling to maintain its credibility.
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