Blockworks Shuts Down News Division, Lays Off Journalists in Pivot to Data Business

Blockworks is shutting down its news division and laying off its journalism team as the crypto media company pivots to focus on data and software products, co-founder Jason Yanowitz announced Wednesday.

The decision ends Blockworks' news operations launched in 2021, with Yanowitz citing a changed media landscape where "the same problems don't exist today" that justified the company's entry into editorial content.

"There are many strong crypto media publications. Great journalists combined with new tools have raised the bar in reporting, and traditional outlets have also improved," Yanowitz wrote on X. "Meanwhile, users are increasingly looking toward data as a primary information source."

Senior news editor Katherine Ross confirmed she was among those affected by the layoffs. "So proud of the work our team did and, while I'm bummed I won't be working with everyone directly anymore, I can't wait to see where my incredibly talented ex-colleagues land," she wrote. Casey Wagner, economic and crypto policy reporter, and Ben Strack, senior reporter, also confirmed their exits.

The layoffs come despite what Yanowitz described as strong financial performance, with "record revenues in 2025" and projections for "another record year in 2026." Fortune reported in April that Blockworks was "on track to pull in over $30 million in revenue this year" and had been profitable every year but one since founding in 2017.

Yanowitz and co-founder Mike Ippolito are redirecting the company toward its data business, which has shown "particularly rapid growth" over the past two years. "The market is telling us that our combo of data + distribution is extremely valuable," Yanowitz wrote.

The pivot reflects broader pressures in crypto media as companies seek sustainable business models beyond advertising-dependent journalism. Data and software products typically command higher margins and recurring revenue compared to news operations reliant on sponsorships and event revenue.

Blockworks raised $12 million at a $135 million valuation in May 2023 from 10T Holdings, with participation from Framework Ventures and Santiago Santos. The company operates events including Permissionless and Digital Asset Summit conferences alongside podcasts and newsletters.

"Over the coming months, you'll see Blockworks evolve into a data-first intelligence platform," Yanowitz wrote. "Our website will become a true data destination."

The company plans to continue its main newsletters, podcasts, and events business while rolling out "category-defining software and data products." Blockworks' Digital Asset Summit is scheduled for Abu Dhabi next year.

A check by Blockhead shows 11 vacancies at Blockworks, including Engineering (Sr. Backend/Sr. Data/Sr. Frontend), Content (Host/Producer/Editor), Executive (VP Content/VP Product), and Sales (Brand Partner).

Yanowitz positioned the decision as focusing on "the greatest opportunity we've seen since launching Blockworks in 2017," suggesting confidence that data products represent larger commercial potential than editorial operations.