The brief
Angles we commission on crypto
We are not short of general overviews. These are the shapes that get commissioned, with the kind of specificity that separates a pitch from a topic.
Mechanics people get wrong
Maker versus taker pricing, why an instant-buy button costs more, what a spread hides, how custody actually works at an exchange. Concrete, checkable, useful.
Regulation as it lands
What a rule change means for an ordinary holder in practice, not a summary of the press release. Jurisdiction-specific and dated.
Post-mortems on failures
A collapse, a depeg, an exploit, taken apart properly. What the warning signs were, who was exposed, and what a reader should do differently.
The standard
What a commissioned piece has to do
Crypto is a YMYL subject and readers act on what we publish, so the bar on sourcing is higher here than on a general tech blog. Every number needs a primary source and a date.
What gets accepted
- A specific claim in the headline, not a topic
- Primary sources for every figure, linked and dated
- First-hand use of whatever you are writing about
- A clear statement of what you could not verify
- Plain English, with jargon explained on first use
What gets rejected
- Price predictions or anything implying a guaranteed return
- Undisclosed paid links or backlink placements
- Rewritten press releases and exchange announcements
- Token promotion presented as a neutral explainer
- "Top 10 coins" listicles with no original analysis
The full standard, including sourcing and disclosure rules, is in our guest post guidelines. Read it before pitching; it answers most questions faster than we can, and it echoes the same principles in the SPJ Code of Ethics.
Ready?
Pitch a crypto piece
One idea per pitch. Give us the angle, why it matters now, and a link to something you have written. Choose "Editorial pitch" so it reaches the right desk.
Inquiry
Pitch a crypto piece
Angle, why now, and a writing sample. Choose 'Editorial pitch' as your interest.
Thanks, we'll be in touch
Your message is on its way to the Curio team. Expect a reply within about two business days.
Crypto contributor FAQs
What crypto topics are you actively looking for?
Anything where a reader has to make a decision with money and the existing coverage is vague. Fee mechanics, custody trade-offs, tax treatment (see the IRS digital assets guidance as one starting point), security practice, and honest post-mortems of failures are consistently under-served. We are not looking for another explainer on what bitcoin is.
Do I need to be a professional writer?
No, but you do need to know the subject first-hand. We would rather edit clear thinking from a practitioner than publish polished prose from someone who has never used the tools. Tell us what you have actually done in your pitch.
Can I write about my own exchange or product?
Not as editorial. If you have a commercial interest in the subject, that is a sponsored placement, clearly labelled and carrying rel="sponsored" links. We are happy to do that, on a separate track. What we will not do is run promotion dressed as independent coverage.
How long should a crypto piece be?
Most land between 1,200 and 2,000 words. Length follows the argument rather than a target. If you can make the point properly in 900 words, do that.
Do you accept pieces about specific coins?
Yes, if the angle is mechanical rather than promotional. How a consensus mechanism handles a specific failure case is interesting. Why a token is undervalued is not something we publish.
What is your turnaround on pitches?
Crypto pitches usually get a yes or no within two working days, since the news cycle here moves fast and a dated angle can go stale quickly. Silent after a week? A short nudge is fine.