Difference between revisions of "The Block"

Latest revision as of 04:09, 1 June 2023

Basics

Crypto news website founded in early 2018 and based in NYC, "The Block’s team is spread across 7 times zones".
The owner Mike Dudas has been known for controversy:

"“We’ve learned (4-2019) that @CoinDesk is telling companies they will only cover their news if it’s not shared with @TheBlock__ until after CoinDesk publishes,” co-founder The Block, Mike Dudas, claimed. “If those vapid, decaying bullies try to pull that on you, give us the news straightaway so true industry leaders read it ASAP,” he stressed."

Coindesk responded:

“This is simply and utterly mischaracterized,” CoinDesk responded to Dudas, emphasizing its “reporters, like all reporters, prioritize exclusives.” Editor-in-Chief Pete Rizzo came out guns blazing, “JUST IN: @mdudas is a liar who will stop at nothing to pump his failing company. When does the SLANDER end? Do we really have an industry where the ACCUSER is always RIGHT? Congrats to @TheBlock__ for bringing birtherism to crypto.”

Not long after things made a weird turn:

"Also of interest is how John Biggs, The Block’s first Editor-in-Chief, also suddenly left, but for CoinDesk, not too long after that April row. Biggs was an early guest on the CoinSpice Podcast, and was the first to publicly discuss The Block’s move toward paywalled content. Biggs was clearly a part of The Block’s longer-term plans at that point. His leaving was certainly a slap, considering his new gig, and probably served to only heighten tensions between the two."

Team, investors

Team

Mike Dudas; co-founder who, according to their website, has 100% of his crypto invested in BTC.
Jake McGraw; co-founder, also 100% BTC.
Larry Cermak; Became CEO (31-3-2023).
John Biggs, The Block’s first Editor-in-Chief but left to work for CoinDesk in 4-2019.
Half of their team does not hold any crypto at all, as of Wednesday, September 5, 2019.
Arjun Balaji; advisor (1-1-2019)
Their CEO, Michael McCaffrey left after it became clear that he secretly had taken ~$31M from Alameda Research. From first reactions, it seems that the investments did not alter the tone of The Block (11-12-2022). "In April 2021, McCaffrey led a buyout of The Block's investors, making the firm 100% owned by its employees, with McCaffrey holding a majority stake."

Investors

Prisma; Eden, director of research, was part of the first Prisma round (31-5-2023)
Raised $2 million among a reported 18 investors, one of whom was crypto exchange bank Coinbase. Around $25,000, which was returned after conflict accusation.

Partners

One of (23-3-2020) the customers of Dune Analytics.

@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 * [[Mike Dudas]]; co-founder who, [https://www.theblockcrypto.com/financial-disclosures according] to their website, has 100% of his crypto invested in BTC.
 * Jake McGraw; co-founder, also 100% BTC.
+*[[Larry Cermak]]; [https://twitter.com/lawmaster/status/1641771410606657539 Became] CEO (31-3-2023).
 * [[John Biggs]], The Block’s first Editor-in-Chief but left to work for [[CoinDesk]] in 4-2019.
 * Half of their team does not hold any crypto at all, as of Wednesday, September 5, 2019.
 * [[Arjun Balaji]]; [https://medium.com/@arjunblj/crypto-theses-for-2019-dd20cb7f9895 advisor] (1-1-2019)
-*Their CEO, [[Michael McCaffrey]] [https://www.theblock.co/post/193753/the-block-ceo-resigns-after-failure-to-disclose-loans-from-bankman-frieds-alameda?utm_campaign=Delphi%20Daily&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=237345064&utm_content=237345064&utm_source=hs_email left] after it became clear that he had taken ~$31M from Alameda Research. From first reactions, it seems that the investments did not alter the tone of The Block (11-12-2022).
+*Their CEO, [[Michael McCaffrey]] [https://www.theblock.co/post/193753/the-block-ceo-resigns-after-failure-to-disclose-loans-from-bankman-frieds-alameda?utm_campaign=Delphi%20Daily&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=237345064&utm_content=237345064&utm_source=hs_email left] after it became clear that he secretly had taken ~$31M from Alameda Research. From first reactions, it seems that the investments did not alter the tone of The Block (11-12-2022). ''"In April 2021, McCaffrey led a [https://www.axios.com/2022/12/09/bankman-fried-funded-crypto-news-site-block buyout] of The Block's investors, making the firm 100% owned by its employees, with McCaffrey holding a majority stake."''
 === Investors ===
-* [https://coinspice.io/news/coindesk-accused-of-telling-companies-to-hold-back-news-stories-from-the-block/ Raised] $2 million among a reported 18 investors, one of whom was crypto exchange bank [[Coinbase (Company)|Coinbase]]. Around $25,000, which was [https://coinspice.io/news/after-conflict-accusation-the-block-pledges-to-return-coinbases-25k-investment/ returned] after conflict accusation.
+* [[Prisma Finance (PRISMA)|Prisma]]; Eden, director of research, was [https://mirror.xyz/0xcaD9653550286Eb1D4779D622A6a5218b446b57C/wYAgS4n7aL4tNFdxSed_m_5nrNXg_3yNc18CwBdCyfU part of] the first Prisma round (31-5-2023)
+*[https://coinspice.io/news/coindesk-accused-of-telling-companies-to-hold-back-news-stories-from-the-block/ Raised] $2 million among a reported 18 investors, one of whom was crypto exchange bank [[Coinbase (Company)|Coinbase]]. Around $25,000, which was [https://coinspice.io/news/after-conflict-accusation-the-block-pledges-to-return-coinbases-25k-investment/ returned] after conflict accusation.
 === Partners ===
 * [https://www.duneanalytics.com/ One of] (23-3-2020) the customers of [[Dune Analytics]].
 [[Category:Companies/Organisations]]