Blockworks Shuts Down News Division, Pivots To Data
Blockworks Shifts Strategy: Shuts Down News Division, Focuses On Data
On October 29, 2025, Blockworks, a prominent crypto media company, announced a significant strategic decision: the closure of its news division and the layoff of its journalism team to fully pivot towards its rapidly growing data and analytics business. The announcement was made by co-founder Jason Yanowitz on X (formerly Twitter). This move marks a crucial turning point in the company's business strategy and reflects broader shifts within the crypto media landscape.
The Rationale Behind The Decision
Blockworks' decision, while seemingly abrupt, stems from a deep analysis of market demands and user behavior. Jason Yanowitz articulated that the market indicates a clear preference for their "combo of data + distribution". The company's analytics business has experienced "particularly rapid growth" over the past two years, signaling a highly valuable and expanding sector.
Furthermore, Yanowitz highlighted the evolving media environment. When Blockworks launched its newsroom in 2021, the aim was to address "the information problem" in a burgeoning crypto market. However, today, "the same problems don't exist" as there are now numerous strong crypto media publications, with talented journalists and new tools having raised the bar in reporting. Crucially, users are increasingly turning to data as a primary information source.
From a business perspective, software and data products typically command higher margins and more stable recurring revenue compared to news operations, which often rely on sponsorships and event revenue. This indicates a more sustainable business model for Blockworks in the long term.
Impressive Financial Performance
Notably, the shutdown of the news division is not a result of financial distress. On the contrary, Blockworks reported "record revenues in 2025" and projects "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 its founding in 2017. The company also raised $12 million at a $135 million valuation in May 2023. These figures underscore that the decision is a strategic pivot rather than a reaction to financial pressures.
Blockworks' Future: A Data-First Intelligence Platform
With this strategic shift, Blockworks aims to become "a true data destination" and a "data-first intelligence platform" for digital asset professionals. The company's core operations, including its main newsletters, podcasts, and events such as the Digital Asset Summit (DAS), will continue and expand. Specifically, DAS is slated to expand to Abu Dhabi in 2026, demonstrating Blockworks' commitment to global distribution and events.
Among the journalists affected by the layoffs were senior news editor Katherine Ross, economic and crypto policy reporter Casey Wagner, and senior reporter Ben Strack. Jason Yanowitz expressed gratitude for the editorial team's contributions and encouraged other companies to consider hiring these talented journalists.
Conclusion
Blockworks' decision to close its news division and pivot towards a data and analytics focus serves as a clear indicator of the evolving crypto industry and its associated media landscape. By leveraging its core strengths in data and distribution, Blockworks aims to position itself as a leader in providing insightful and valuable information to digital asset professionals, while adapting to changing user preferences in a dynamic market.
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