Pressure of Truth
Exposing the spin on all sides of the news.
Outlet profile

DL News

crypto-industry, editorially independent

Owned byOriginally the editorial arm of DefiLlama (operated via Llama Corp, a Dubai-based entity); after closure in May 2026, assets were sold to unidentified buyers with no disclosed affiliation
FundingAdvertising and commercial revenue; did not take venture capital or loans; reported 270% revenue growth in 2025, surpassing seven figures annually before closure
On the administrationmostly neutral

Background

DL News launched in late 2022 and began formal operations in early 2023 with a team of roughly 10–12 journalists spread across Europe, positioned as the news arm of DefiLlama, one of the most widely used DeFi data aggregators. The outlet aimed to fill a gap between mainstream financial journalism, which it viewed as dismissive of crypto, and the promotional 'shilling' common in crypto media. A significant internal conflict at DefiLlama in early 2023 effectively severed the operational relationship between the two, leaving DL News to stand on its own. It did not take venture capital funding, relying instead on advertising and commercial revenue. Despite impressive growth—270% revenue increase in 2025 and crossing seven figures in annual sales—the outlet announced in May 2026 that it would close, citing AI-driven collapse of search traffic, shrinking crypto-media audiences, and its loss of the DefiLlama distribution network. After editorial operations ended, the website and social media accounts were sold to unidentified buyers; DefiLlama publicly cut all ties with the new owners, stating it could not verify who they were. During its active years, DL News was regarded in the industry as one of the more rigorous crypto-focused news operations, covering the Trump administration's crypto-friendly policies and legislative milestones—such as the GENIUS Act on stablecoins—with straightforward, regulatory-focused reporting rather than advocacy.

Sources

  1. Crypto currency site DL News launching with 12-strong team — Press Gazette
  2. DL News is closing — Yahoo Finance
  3. Popular news outlet closes after three years of breaking stories — TheStreet Crypto
  4. DefiLlama Cuts Ties With DL News After Mystery Ownership Sale — Yahoo Finance
  5. DefiLlama Breaks With DL News After Reported Mystery Sale of Ownership — Crypto Economy
  6. DL News Shuts Down: Crypto Media Outlet Fails To Build Sustainable Business — BitcoinWorld
  7. Key dates for US crypto regulation in 2026 — DL News
  8. About Us — DL News
  9. Editorial Standards — DL News
  10. DL News — Crunchbase

Profile compiled 2026-07-26; refreshed when ownership, funding, or the administration changes.

← Back to track record