Foley AANHPI Heritage Month Program: A Conversation With Crypto Journalist Laura Shin

In celebration of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, Foley & Lardner hosted a firmwide virtual program on May 22 featuring crypto journalist and Unchained podcast host Laura Shin, who is one of the leading voices in cryptocurrency and blockchain reporting.

Asian, Pacific, and Middle Eastern Attorneys Affinity Group Chair Eric Chow introduced Shin, noting that “we have a lot to learn from her.” As a senior editor at Forbes, Shin was the first mainstream reporter to cover crypto assets full-time. She went on to publish a book titled The Cryptopians: Idealism, Greed, Lies, and the Making of the First Big Cryptocurrency Craze.

Shin began her program by sharing her personal journey into crypto journalism that started when she was assigned to work on The Forbes Fintech 50 list. “I took the digital currencies category and ended up falling down the rabbit hole,” she said. Through her writing, podcasting, and public speaking, Shin has become known for her ability to make crypto and blockchain tech accessible and understandable for her audiences.

For her audience at Foley, Shin broke down both the technology and financial aspects of cryptocurrency and the blockchain in clear terms, describing it as a decentralized system of trust — one that operates without a central authority, relying instead on a global network to verify transactions.

Shin highlighted Bitcoin as the origin point of the crypto revolution, designed to enable peer-to-peer digital payments. “People living in countries where there’s hyperinflation or an unstable currency have been especially drawn to Bitcoin,” she said. Shin also discussed the rise of Ethereum, the next most valuable cryptocurrency. She explained that Ethereum is built around a programming language to enable developers to add new features to its blockchain, which has driven ‘crypto crazes’ like NFTs and DeFi summer.

“Today there are many more competitors to the Bitcoin and Ethereum blockchains that are trying to build the internet of money.”

The conclusion of Shin’s program focused on where crypto could be headed, as meme coins and other new cryptocurrencies enter the market, crypto-based investment products take off, regulators grapple over the question of when a crypto asset is a security, and countries launch digital forms of their currencies. “The whole space around crypto is very much in flux.”

As we celebrate AANHPI Heritage Month, Shin’s personal narrative, technological insight, and cultural reflection is a powerful example of what it means to lead in an emerging space and how curiosity and boldness can pave the way for meaningful contributions in emerging industries. Follow the link to learn more about Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion at the firm.