Leigh Cuen

Leigh Cuen is a tech reporter covering blockchain technology for publications such as Newsweek Japan, International Business Times and Racked. Her work has also been published by Teen Vogue, Al Jazeera English, The Jerusalem Post, Mic, and Salon. Leigh does not hold value in any digital currency projects or startups. Her small cryptocurrency holdings are worth less than a pair of leather boots.

Recent

Finance

Inflation

Bitcoin Garners New Users as Governments Flood World With Fiat

Thousands of new users are turning to bitcoin, according to Kraken and other exchanges, over fears that government stimulus will lead to inflation.

By Leigh Cuen

Apr 9, 2020 at 7:05 p.m. UTC

Apr 9, 2020

InflationBitcoinDollarCoronavirus

Finance

E-commerce

This Visa Card Gives Bitcoin Rewards on Dollars Spent

Bitcoin rewards for dollars spent. That's the allure of a new Visa credit card from e-commerce startup Fold.

By Leigh Cuen

Apr 9, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. UTC

Apr 9, 2020

E-CommerceCredit CardsVisaBitcoinFold

Finance

Chicago

Chicago's Trading Firms Look to DeFi With New 'Alliance'

DeFi may actually grow during the coronavirus crisis. TD Ameritrade, Cumberland, CMT Digital, DV Trading and Jump Trading are hoping to facilitate.

By Leigh Cuen

Apr 8, 2020 at 12:00 p.m. UTC

Apr 8, 2020

ChicagoEthereumTD AmeritradeStablecoinsDeFiCompound

Finance

Privacy

As Governments Rush to Track Coronavirus, Honduras May Offer a Privacy-First Model

A blockchain startup working in Honduras may show world governments how to limit surveillance overreach while still fighting the deadly coronavirus.

By Leigh Cuen

Apr 2, 2020 at 9:31 p.m. UTC

Apr 2, 2020

PrivacyLatin AmericaBlockchainHondurasCoronavirus

Finance

Payments

Cannabis Shops Are Using Zap's Lightning App During Coronavirus Cash Crunch

The Lightning Network startup now offers fiat-friendly bitcoin payment tools. Cannabis dispensaries in Colorado are an early proving ground.

By Leigh Cuen

Apr 1, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. UTC

Apr 1, 2020

PaymentsBitcoinLightning NetworkCannabis

Finance

Payments

Bitcoin's Lightning Becomes Latest Protocol to Court Publishers With Micropayments

With paywall systems for a whole bevy of assets, crypto payments could revolutionize the media industry – if demand actually matched supply.

By Leigh Cuen

Mar 31, 2020 at 7:50 p.m. UTC

Mar 31, 2020

PaymentsEthereumMediaBitcoinLightning NetworkBraveJournalismBasic Attention TokenCoil

Tech

Bitcoin mining

How Bitcoin’s Price Slump Is Changing the Geography of Mining

Although China remains the leading region for bitcoin mining, the coronavirus downturn is changing the picture in other geographies.

By Leigh Cuen

Mar 30, 2020 at 6:43 p.m. UTC

Mar 30, 2020

Bitcoin MiningChinaIranCanadaRussiaBitcoinF2PoolBitcoin MinersHashrate

Finance

Gold

Geopolitical Crisis May Benefit Oil, Gold and CBDCs, Not Bitcoin

Demand for gold is skyrocketing and the clamor for scarce assets in a remote-first world was precisely where bitcoin was supposed to shine. But it's complicated.

By Leigh Cuen

Mar 26, 2020 at 8:48 p.m. UTC

Mar 26, 2020

GoldBitcoinOilDollar

Finance

Proof-of-stake

CasperLabs Pivots Away From Ethereum to Fundraise With Its Own Blockchain

CasperLabs is partnering with the Singapore-registered exchange BitMax to conduct a token sale kicking off on March 30.

By Leigh Cuen

Mar 25, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. UTC

Mar 25, 2020

Proof-of-StakeTokensToken SalesCasperLabsBitMax

Markets

Podcasts

How Bitcoiners Can Protect Their Mental Health During the Coronavirus Crisis

CoinDesk reporter Leigh Cuen is joined by cognitive economist Leigh Caldwell, author of “The Psychology of Price,” to talk about mental health and cryptocurrency in a time of...

By Leigh Cuen

Mar 21, 2020 at 12:30 p.m. UTC

Mar 21, 2020

PodcastsLeigh CuenMental Health