Epstein Allegedly Funded Early Bitcoin Development

Recent revelations suggest Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender, may have financially supported early Bitcoin development through donations to MIT’s Media Lab. Epstein, who died in 2019, was known for associating with prominent figures in business, politics, and academia and for utilizing substantial charitable donations to cultivate influence.

Documents released by the House Ways and Means Committee show Epstein directed funds to the Digital Currency Initiative (DCI), a joint venture between MIT’s Media Lab and R3, to support Bitcoin Core development. In a 2015 email, DCI leadership thanked Epstein, stating the funds allowed them to “move quickly and win this round.”

The DCI email detailed the involvement of five core Bitcoin developers, including Gavin Wood, who Epstein noted was “smart.” It also highlighted the DCI’s support network including prominent academics and former IMF officials. Epstein’s estimated $550 million fortune was consistently used for charitable contributions, often to secure connections and influence within elite circles.

Beyond MIT, Epstein had ties to Brock Pierce, an early investor in Tether and EOS. Pierce attended a 2011 conference hosted by Epstein in the Virgin Islands, followed by discussions reportedly related to cryptocurrency. Pierce’s financial standing reportedly improved in the years following this meeting.

The revelations raise questions about Epstein’s potential involvement in the early stages of Bitcoin’s development and the extent to which his influence shaped the cryptocurrency’s trajectory. While the full scope of Epstein’s involvement remains unclear, the documents highlight a darker facet of the cryptocurrency’s history and the complicated connections within elite circles.

Disclaimer: What is written here is not investment advice. Cryptocurrency investments are high-risk investments. Every investment decision is under the individual’s own responsibility.