CoinDesk has published since 2013 and is the most complete newsroom here, but it is owned by Bullish, an exchange operator, and says its journalists may receive Bullish equity. Ownership matters in crypto news. The Block names Foresight Ventures as its majority investor, and Bitcoin Magazine, published since 2012, covers only Bitcoin.
Quick answer
Read CoinDesk or The Block for breaking industry news, Decrypt if you are new to crypto, and Bitcoin Magazine if you only follow Bitcoin. Check each outlet's owner before trusting coverage of that owner.
- 01CoinDesk: Best overall newsroom
- 02The Block: best for data and research
- 03Cointelegraph: best for daily volume
- 04Decrypt: best for beginners
- 05Bitcoin Magazine: best for Bitcoin only
The 5 best crypto news sites
CoinDesk has published since 2013, runs the Consensus conferences and publishes its editorial policies. It is part of Bullish (NYSE: BLSH) and discloses that journalists may receive Bullish equity.
- Platforms
- Web, iOS
- Launched
- 2013
- Company
- Part of Bullish (NYSE: BLSH)
- US availability
- Yes (US App Store)
Pros
- Publishing since 2013
- Public editorial policies
- Runs indices and a market data API next to the newsroom
Cons
- Owned by Bullish, an exchange operator it also covers
- Journalists may receive Bullish equity, per its own disclosure
Skip it if you want coverage of Bullish's exchange from an independent outlet.
#2T
Best for data and research
The Block was founded in 2018 and cites 1M monthly readers. News, newsletters and podcasts are free; premium research and data are paid. Foresight Ventures has been its majority investor since November 2023.
- Platforms
- Web
- Launched
- 2018
- Company
- Block Bond Holdings, Inc. (Delaware corporation, per its terms); majority investor Foresight Ventures since Nov 2023
- US availability
- Available in the US
Pros
- News, newsletters and podcasts free to read
- Data dashboards next to news
- Cites 1M monthly readers
Cons
- Majority investor is Foresight Ventures, a crypto fund
- Premium research and data need a paid subscription
- Pro pricing not published on its About page
Skip it if you want all research free: premium research needs a paid subscription.
Cointelegraph, founded in 2013, publishes daily news and analysis on blockchain, digital assets, AI and fintech, with price pages on the same site.
- Platforms
- Web, iOS
- Launched
- 2013
- Company
- CT Media Group Inc. (app publisher)
- US availability
- Yes (US App Store)
Pros
- Publishing since 2013
- Daily news plus price pages on the same site
- iOS app in the US App Store
Cons
- Covers AI and fintech too, so crypto news is mixed with other topics
- Owner is not named on its About page
Skip it if you want crypto-only news: it also covers AI and fintech.
Decrypt was founded in 2018 to explain the decentralized web to a general audience, and it sends a free weekly newsletter. It is published by Decrypt Media, Inc.
- Platforms
- Web, iOS
- Launched
- 2018
- Company
- Decrypt Media, Inc.
- US availability
- Yes (US App Store)
Pros
- Written for readers new to crypto
- Free weekly newsletter
- Public disclosures and code of conduct pages
Cons
- Says its day-to-day operations are powered by AI
- Covers culture and tech, so market news is a smaller share
Skip it if you want fully human-run operations: Decrypt says its day-to-day operations are powered by AI.
Bitcoin Magazine has published since 2012, calls itself the first publication dedicated to Bitcoin, and still prints quarterly issues.
- Platforms
- Web, iOS
- Launched
- 2012
- Company
- BTC Media LLC, publishing arm of BTC Inc. (subsidiary of Nakamoto Inc., NASDAQ: NAKA)
- US availability
- Yes (US App Store)
- Pricing
- Free to read online; print subscription $79 a year
Pros
- Publishing since 2012
- Bitcoin-only coverage
- Quarterly print issues
Cons
- No coverage of Ethereum, Solana or altcoin markets
- Same group runs the Bitcoin Conference and sells merchandise
Skip it if you follow Ethereum, Solana or altcoins: it covers Bitcoin only.
Not on this list
Blockworks: No longer publishes daily news; now data, research and events
Crypto News Sites compared
Select a name to jump to its review.
| Name | Best for | US availability |
|---|
| CoinDesk | Breaking industry news | Yes (US App Store) |
|---|
| The Block | News plus data dashboards | Available in the US |
|---|
| Cointelegraph | Daily news and prices | Yes (US App Store) |
|---|
| Decrypt | Plain-language explainers | Yes (US App Store) |
|---|
| Bitcoin Magazine | Bitcoin news | Yes (US App Store) |
|---|
“Not verified” means we could not confirm the value on the project’s own pages.
How we rank crypto news sites
- 01Track record: years of publishing, from the outlet's own About page.
- 02Ownership disclosure: whether the outlet names its owner or majority investor and discloses conflicts.
- 03Focus: what the outlet covers: whole industry, investors, beginners or Bitcoin only.
- 04Access: what is free to read and what sits behind a paid product.
No project paid to be listed or ranked. Full rules: methodology.
What we did not test
- We did not open accounts, deposit money or place trades with these services.
- We did not audit smart contracts, reserves or security claims ourselves; we report what the project and its auditors publish.
- Fees, limits and availability change; the list date shows when we last checked them.
Rubric last updated Oct 1, 2026. Crypto assets are not insured by the FDIC or SIPC, and you can lose all the money you put in. This page is educational content, not financial advice.
How to choose
01Check the owner
CoinDesk belongs to Bullish, and Foresight Ventures is The Block's majority investor. Read coverage of an owner's own business with that in mind.
02Read two sources on big stories
For hacks, lawsuits and listings, compare two outlets and the primary source, such as a court filing or the project's own post.
03Separate news from sponsored posts
Crypto outlets publish press releases and sponsored content. Look for a sponsored or press release label before trusting a claim.
Who should skip all of these
- Traders who need real-time price data: see our best crypto trading tools list.
- Anyone looking for investment advice: news sites report events, they do not tell you what to buy.
Bottom line
CoinDesk and The Block cover the most ground; read both on major stories.
Match the outlet to your focus: Decrypt for beginners, The Block for data, Bitcoin Magazine for Bitcoin.
Educational content, not financial advice. Crypto assets are volatile; do your own research.
FAQ
Who owns CoinDesk?
±
CoinDesk says it is part of Bullish (NYSE: BLSH), and that its employees, including journalists, may receive Bullish equity.
Who owns The Block?
±
The Block's About page says Foresight Ventures has been its majority investor since November 2023. The company is The Block Bond Holdings, Inc.
What is the oldest crypto news site?
±
Of these five, Bitcoin Magazine, published since 2012. CoinDesk and Cointelegraph started in 2013.
Are crypto news sites free?
±
News on all five is free to read. The Block sells premium research and data separately.
Do crypto journalists own the coins they cover?
±
They may, under disclosure rules. CoinDesk reporters must disclose holdings of $1,000 or more and hold any purchase for 30 days. Decrypt writers disclose holdings quarterly and are discouraged from covering a coin they hold more than $1,000 of, with Bitcoin, Ethereum and Solana exempt. The Block's staff disclose positions of $5,000 or more.
What changed in this list
2026-09-26First version: 6 outlets, ownership and history checked on each outlet's own pages.
2026-09-26Blockworks moved to excluded: it no longer publishes daily news and is now a data, research and events company. List is now 5 outlets.
2026-10-01Added a FAQ on journalists' crypto holdings and disclosure rules. Fixed source links that were stored without an href.
Who made this page
✓
Fact check
Checked against 6 sourcesLast check: Oct 1, 2026
A value we could not confirm on the project’s own pages is marked “Not verified” instead of estimated.
How we review