CoinDesk, the leading online publication for cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology, recently retracted two essays it had published following the spread of criticism that the essays were focused on highly personalized attacks that could lead to potential legal actions.
The two essays in question are titled “The Crypto Elite, Conditions of Exchange” and “Crypto Elites And Dark Ambitions,” written by CoinDesk journalist Brady Dale. They described a certain segment of the cryptocurrency space as “elites” who wielded influence on the rest of the industry while hiding behind “anonymous tokens” and secret boards.
While the essays were pointed in their criticism, they had gone beyond what many felt was appropriate journalism—namely, attacking individuals or their companies without proper evidence or context.
That’s where the retraction comes in. CoinDesk released a statement saying that, while they appreciated the “insight” Dale had provided, they felt the essays were “inappropriate” or potentially illegal and needed to be removed.
CoinDesk further explained that their publication stands for “fair” and “objective” journalism and the articles in question did not meet that criteria. They apologized to their readers who may have taken offense at the essays and noted that their retraction does not reflect any ill will towards the individuals or companies mentioned within.
This decision on the part of CoinDesk is a sign that the company is taking a stand against improper journalism. Not only is it a smart move, since it could prevent potential lawsuits, but it is a signal to its readers that CoinDesk holds itself to a high standard when it comes to the work it produces.
The publishing world has plenty of potential pitfalls in terms of libel and slander, and CoinDesk’s clear stance that it will not publish anything that does not meet the standards of sound, ethical journalism can only help to boost its credibility with readers. As the cryptocurrency and blockchain space continues to grow, it’s important to have reliable publications like CoinDesk fighting for truth and transparency.
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