Emails Show Even Epstein Thought Crypto Pumps are Unethical

Epstein’s Shadow Looms Large Over Early Crypto’s Wild West: New DOJ Files Reveal Tangled Web of Investments, Ideals, and Infamy

In a revelation that reads like the script of a dystopian tech thriller, newly released U.S. Department of Justice documents from the Jeffrey Epstein files have unearthed startling connections between the disgraced financier and the formative years of the cryptocurrency industry. The files, which include emails, investor updates, and correspondence, paint a picture of a man deeply entwined with the architects of Bitcoin’s early infrastructure—raising uncomfortable questions about the moral compromises that fueled crypto’s meteoric rise.

The documents suggest Epstein’s reach extended far beyond his infamous social circles, touching the very foundations of the blockchain revolution. From attempts to invest in Bitcoin Core development to indirect stakes in crypto exchange giant Coinbase and blockchain technology firm Blockstream, Epstein’s fingerprints appear across multiple high-profile ventures. Even more jarring is the revelation that the financier, whose crimes shocked the world, reportedly drew an ethical line at profiting from crypto token “pumps”—a stance that, in hindsight, drips with irony.

A Web of Connections: Epstein’s Crypto Network

The earliest threads of Epstein’s crypto involvement trace back to 2011, when he reached out to angel investor and All-In Podcast co-host Jason Calacanis in search of Bitcoin’s brightest minds. Calacanis, who has since faced scrutiny for his interactions with Epstein, pointed the financier toward Bitcoin Core contributors Gavin Andresen and Amir Taaki. In an email, Calacanis warned Epstein that these were “crazy open source folks who are radicals,” likening their motivations to those behind WikiLeaks and Wikipedia.

Amir Taaki, reflecting on the encounter years later, revealed he had dodged a bullet. “He wanted to invest in my company,” Taaki wrote on X. “I was for it but my CEO looked him up and said absolutely not.”

The files also shed light on Epstein’s ties to Blockstream, a blockchain technology company co-founded by Austin Hill. In one email, Hill expressed frustration to Reid Hoffman and Joi Ito over Blockstream investors backing perceived competitors like Ripple and Stellar. “Ripple, and Jed’s new stellar are bad for the ecosystem we are building,” Hill wrote, revealing the cutthroat nature of early crypto alliances.

Coinbase, Coinbase, Coinbase: Epstein’s Stake in the Giant

Perhaps the most eyebrow-raising revelations involve Coinbase, the crypto exchange that would go on to become a household name. Emails forwarded to Epstein by Brock Pierce, co-founder of Tether and Blockchain Capital, included regular investor updates from Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong. One particularly notable email, dated February 2016, hinted at Coinbase’s behind-the-scenes efforts to navigate Bitcoin’s contentious block size debate—a period that would later be dubbed the “block size war.”

In the email, Armstrong wrote that Coinbase was working to ensure the Bitcoin network was not “held back by any of the early idealists.” This sentiment foreshadowed Coinbase’s later involvement in the New York Agreement, a controversial plan to alter Bitcoin’s protocol that was ultimately abandoned amid fears of a corporate takeover of the decentralized network.

Ethics, Irony, and the Line Epstein Drew

In a particularly chilling exchange, Epstein told Bitcoin developer Jeremy Rubin that he had “ethics-related concerns” with profiting from crypto token pumps. “I am more than happy to fund things but as I am high profile, it can’t be questionable ethics,” Epstein wrote, a statement that now reads as a masterclass in cognitive dissonance. “Their deal is to pump the currency, it is dangerous.”

The irony was not lost on observers. “One of the most deplorable, sadistic humans of the modern era somehow drew the line at pumping crypto tokens lol,” quipped X user Gwart, encapsulating the collective disbelief.

The Fallout: Narratives, Spin, and Uncomfortable Truths

As with any major revelation, the Epstein crypto files have been interpreted through partisan lenses. Crypto enthusiasts and critics alike have seized on the documents to bolster their own narratives, often ignoring the uncomfortable reality that Epstein’s influence touched a wide spectrum of individuals and organizations. From Republicans to Democrats, from idealists to opportunists, the files reveal a crypto ecosystem willing to overlook moral red flags in pursuit of innovation, influence, or profit.

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