{"id":"leo-schwartz","title":"Leo Schwartz","content":"**Leo Schwartz** is an American journalist who reports on the intersection of technology, finance, and policy. He is a senior reporter at *Fortune*, where his work focuses on topics including [cryptocurrency](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency), financial technology (fintech), venture capital, and regulatory developments. [\\[1\\]](#cite-id-1xguXkh8nE)\n\n## Education\n\nSchwartz attended Columbia University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Latin American Studies in 2014. He later pursued graduate studies at New York University, completing a Master of Arts degree in Journalism and Latin American Studies in 2020. [\\[2\\]](#cite-id-hvTlKy6Ob9)\n\n## Career\n\nSchwartz began his career in 2012 as a news intern at the Council on Foreign Relations, a non-profit think tank specializing in U.S. foreign policy. In this role, he was involved in research, editing, and content production. In 2015, he transitioned to a role as a freelance coordinating producer for The Players’ Tribune, a new media platform founded by Derek Jeter that allows athletes to produce their own editorial content. During the same year, he also worked as a community organizing lead and public relations consultant for the Mission Bay Alliance, a non-profit coalition in San Francisco.\n\nFrom 2016 to 2018, Schwartz served as the media strategy lead at Upbeat (formerly known as PRX), a public relations technology company. His responsibilities included managing media relations for clients and contributing to the development of software tools designed for journalists and public relations professionals. While pursuing his master's degree between 2018 and 2020, he held multiple editorial positions. He was a staff writer and editor for the Latin America News Dispatch, where he covered regional news. He also interned at the media company Roads & Kingdoms. He served as the web editor for the North American Congress on Latin America (NACLA), where he managed the organization's digital content strategy.\n\nIn 2020, Schwartz was selected for the inaugural reporting fellowship at Rest of World, a non-profit journalism organization focused on the global impact of technology. He was later promoted to staff reporter and was based in Mexico City, where his reporting centered on technology in Latin America. In 2022, Schwartz joined *Fortune* magazine as a senior reporter. In this capacity, he covers the financial technology and [cryptocurrency](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency) industries, with a particular focus on venture capital investment and the evolving regulatory landscape in the United States and abroad. [\\[1\\]](#cite-id-1xguXkh8nE) [\\[2\\]](#cite-id-hvTlKy6Ob9)\n\n## Interviews\n\n### Mainstream Crypto\n\nIn an August 2025 episode of Fortune's *Crypto Playbook*, hosts Jeff Roberts and Schwartz discussed the future of cryptocurrency with [Olaf Carlson-Wee](https://iq.wiki/wiki/olaf-carlson-wee), the first employee of [Coinbase](https://iq.wiki/wiki/coinbase) and founder of [Polychain Capital](https://iq.wiki/wiki/polychain-capital). They explored the evolving landscape of [crypto](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency), noting a shift towards its financialization, particularly in the rise of [stablecoins](https://iq.wiki/wiki/stablecoin), which they viewed as a departure from the initial vision of transforming diverse industries. [Carlson-Wee](https://iq.wiki/wiki/olaf-carlson-wee) reflected on his journey into [crypto](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency), which began with his undergraduate thesis on [Bitcoin](https://iq.wiki/wiki/bitcoin) in 2011, and he shared insights on the challenges and successes the crypto sector has encountered. The conversation highlighted the interaction between culture and technology, particularly through the emergence of [memecoins](https://iq.wiki/wiki/memecoins), which [Carlson-Wee](https://iq.wiki/wiki/olaf-carlson-wee) identified as a new form of financial expression and a means to track trends in real-time. They also discussed the potential for [AI agents](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ai-agents) operating within [crypto](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency) ecosystems, emphasizing that the underlying [blockchain](https://iq.wiki/wiki/blockchain) technology could facilitate complex transactions and enable new forms of financial services. Overall, the episode provided a thought-provoking glimpse into the ongoing developments and future possibilities within the [cryptocurrency](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency) space. [\\[3\\]](#cite-id-bfyl19fCYB)\n\n$$widget0 [YOUTUBE@VID](https://youtube.com/watch?v=mqduiME1eYk)$$\n\n### How to Invest\n\nIn an August 2025 episode of Fortune's *Crypto Playbook*, hosts Jeff Roberts and Schwartz discussed the nuances of investing in [cryptocurrency](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency), emphasizing the need for caution. They acknowledged the volatile nature of the market, suggesting that while [Bitcoin](https://iq.wiki/wiki/bitcoin) and [Ethereum](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ethereum) could represent a reasonable investment for those considering allocation in [crypto](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency), newcomers should be wary of risks, particularly with newer and less established coins. The discussion also highlighted the increasing presence of venture capital firms in [crypto](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency), focusing on the importance of thorough evaluation of projects, including the credibility of founders. Expert Jake Brookman, founder of Coin Fund, shared insights into assessing investment opportunities and the evolution of [cryptocurrency](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency) as an asset class, reinforcing that careful consideration and due diligence were crucial to navigating the investment landscape safely. [\\[4\\]](#cite-id-rLGPTjXHap)\n\n$$widget0 [YOUTUBE@VID](https://youtube.com/watch?v=bqqrQyK9EsU)$$\n\n### Circle and Tether\n\nOn the *Crypto Critics’ Corner* podcast in September 2023, hosts Cas Piancey and Bennett Tomlin interviewed Schwartz and explored the challenges faced by [Circle](https://iq.wiki/wiki/circle), the issuer of the [USDC](https://iq.wiki/wiki/usdc) [stablecoin](https://iq.wiki/wiki/stablecoin), in its competition against [Tether](https://iq.wiki/wiki/tether). Despite initially aiming to establish a compliant and regulated [stablecoin](https://iq.wiki/wiki/stablecoin) ecosystem, [Circle](https://iq.wiki/wiki/circle) encountered significant setbacks, particularly following the banking crisis in March, which led to a substantial portion of its reserves being trapped at Silicon Valley Bank. This triggered a loss of confidence and panic among traders, resulting in [USDC](https://iq.wiki/wiki/usdc) losing its peg to the dollar. The conversation highlighted the differences between [Circle](https://iq.wiki/wiki/circle) and [Tether](https://iq.wiki/wiki/tether), particularly in terms of their regulatory approaches and risk management strategies. While [Circle](https://iq.wiki/wiki/circle) pursued regulation and compliance, [Tether](https://iq.wiki/wiki/tether) thrived in a less regulated environment, attracting users wary of U.S. regulatory scrutiny. The episode underscored the complex dynamics of the [stablecoin](https://iq.wiki/wiki/stablecoin) market and the contrasting paths taken by the two companies in navigating their respective business models and market challenges. [\\[5\\]](#cite-id-qxFyuOVBPx)\n\n$$widget0 [YOUTUBE@VID](https://youtube.com/watch?v=UBnCqgveZtA)$$\n\n### SBF’s Legal Troubles\n\nOn *The Majority Report* with Sam Seder, Schwartz discussed the legal troubles of [Sam Bankman-Fried](https://iq.wiki/wiki/sam-bankman-fried) and the collapsed [cryptocurrency](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency) exchange [FTX](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ftx), explaining the platform's functionality as both a cryptocurrency exchange and a derivatives trading platform. Schwartz noted that [FTX](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ftx) engaged in risky trading practices, including utilizing its own token, [FTT](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ftt), as collateral, which contributed to its downfall when customer funds were mismanaged. The conversation also highlighted the lack of regulatory oversight in the [cryptocurrency](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency) industry and the differences between [FTX](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ftx) and more regulated exchanges, such as [Coinbase](https://iq.wiki/wiki/coinbase). Schwartz emphasized that many in the industry are advocating for clearer regulations to establish proper oversight, particularly concerning the division of jurisdiction between the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). As the legal proceedings surrounding [Bankman-Fried](https://iq.wiki/wiki/sam-bankman-fried) began, concerns were raised about the financial connections between lawmakers and the [crypto](https://iq.wiki/wiki/cryptocurrency) industry, along with the potential necessity for clawbacks of donations previously received from [FTX](https://iq.wiki/wiki/ftx). [\\[6\\]](#cite-id-nAe3A17MBW)\n\n$$widget0 [YOUTUBE@VID](https://youtube.com/watch?v=TpNwnADJCew)$$","summary":"Leo Schwartz is a journalist covering the intersection of technology, finance, and policy, with a focus on cryptocurrency and fintech. 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