Epstein Turns Out to Be an Early Investor in Coinbase?... "Found the Second Vitalik Buterin"
Epstein Turns Out to Be an Early Investor in Coinbase?... "Found the Second Vitalik Buterin"
Shocking revelations have emerged from the release of confidential documents by the U.S. Department of Justice showing that financier Jeffrey Epstein, previously convicted on sex crime charges, was deeply involved in the early Bitcoin ecosystem and invested in major companies.
According to newly released files comprising millions of pages related to Epstein, thousands of references to digital assets were identified. The documents indicate that Epstein participated as an early investor in Coinbase and Bitcoin technology firm Blockstream, sending ripples through the industry. Notably, Epstein invested $3 million in Coinbase in 2014, when the company was valued at roughly $400 million, and it was revealed that co-founder Fred Ehrsam was aware of this investment.
The documents also lay bare Epstein’s close relationships with key figures in the digital asset industry. Tether co-founder Brock Pierce reportedly met with former Harvard president Larry Summers at Epstein’s Manhattan townhouse to discuss the opportunities and risks of Bitcoin. Pierce maintained a personal relationship with Epstein, including sending inappropriate emails related to women, and was allegedly asked by Epstein to bring back gifts during overseas trips. Blockstream CEO Adam Back was also confirmed in the documents to have been invited to Epstein’s private island in 2014.
Particularly striking is Epstein’s near-obsessive interest in integrating digital assets into the formal financial system. In a 2018 conversation with then–Trump administration strategist Steve Bannon, he suggested that the Treasury create voluntary disclosure forms for digital asset gains to track bad actors. He also questioned Peter Thiel about Bitcoin’s intrinsic value while discussing the potential for government regulatory pressure. Although Epstein portrayed himself as a high-risk individual concerned about the ethical implications of investments, he paradoxically criticized investors who sought to pump cryptocurrency prices as dangerous.
Cynical assessments of industry heavyweights by individuals around Epstein have also drawn attention. Epstein’s publicist Peggy Siegal sent emails sharply criticizing MicroStrategy CEO Michael Saylor, describing him as zombie-like or a strange figure lacking personality. It was reported that Saylor donated $25,000 at the time to have his name listed at a social gathering. Additionally, a proposal from an investor claiming to have found talent superior to Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin was reportedly conveyed to Epstein, though whether any real connection was made remains unconfirmed.
The projection of Epstein’s dark shadow onto the early history of Bitcoin has sparked renewed debate about the moral foundations of the digital asset ecosystem. While companies such as Blockstream stress that they currently have no financial ties to the Epstein Foundation, the mere fact that early developers were invited to his island makes it difficult to avoid criticism. As the Justice Department continues releasing files, the likelihood grows that further hidden links between the digital asset industry and a disgraced financier will come to light, heightening tension among market participants.
*Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. The publisher is not responsible for any investment losses based on this content.*
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