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, financial technology (fintech), venture capital, and regulatory developments. ^[1]

Education

Schwartz 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]

Career

Schwartz 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.

From 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.

In 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 industries, with a particular focus on venture capital investment and the evolving regulatory landscape in the United States and abroad. ^{[1] [2]}

Interviews

Mainstream Crypto

In an August 2025 episode of Fortune's Crypto Playbook, hosts Jeff Roberts and Schwartz discussed the future of cryptocurrency with Olaf Carlson-Wee, the first employee of Coinbase and founder of Polychain Capital. They explored the evolving landscape of crypto, noting a shift towards its financialization, particularly in the rise of stablecoins, which they viewed as a departure from the initial vision of transforming diverse industries. Carlson-Wee reflected on his journey into crypto, which began with his undergraduate thesis on 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, which 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 operating within crypto ecosystems, emphasizing that the underlying 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 space. ^[3]

How to Invest

In an August 2025 episode of Fortune's Crypto Playbook, hosts Jeff Roberts and Schwartz discussed the nuances of investing in cryptocurrency, emphasizing the need for caution. They acknowledged the volatile nature of the market, suggesting that while Bitcoin and Ethereum could represent a reasonable investment for those considering allocation in crypto, 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, 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 as an asset class, reinforcing that careful consideration and due diligence were crucial to navigating the investment landscape safely. ^[4]

Circle and Tether

On the Crypto Critics’ Corner podcast in September 2023, hosts Cas Piancey and Bennett Tomlin interviewed Schwartz and explored the challenges faced by Circle, the issuer of the USDC stablecoin, in its competition against Tether. Despite initially aiming to establish a compliant and regulated stablecoin ecosystem, 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 losing its peg to the dollar. The conversation highlighted the differences between Circle and Tether, particularly in terms of their regulatory approaches and risk management strategies. While Circle pursued regulation and compliance, Tether thrived in a less regulated environment, attracting users wary of U.S. regulatory scrutiny. The episode underscored the complex dynamics of the stablecoin market and the contrasting paths taken by the two companies in navigating their respective business models and market challenges. ^[5]

SBF’s Legal Troubles

On The Majority Report with Sam Seder, Schwartz discussed the legal troubles of Sam Bankman-Fried and the collapsed cryptocurrency exchange FTX, explaining the platform's functionality as both a cryptocurrency exchange and a derivatives trading platform. Schwartz noted that FTX engaged in risky trading practices, including utilizing its own token, 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 industry and the differences between FTX and more regulated exchanges, such as 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 began, concerns were raised about the financial connections between lawmakers and the crypto industry, along with the potential necessity for clawbacks of donations previously received from FTX. ^[6]