Haciyev Reşit 
The newly released Epstein documents published by the U.S. Department of Justice have revealed that Jeffrey Epstein had far closer ties to the early days of the cryptocurrency sector than previously thought. Disclosed to the public under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, the so-called “Epstein Library” has brought to light striking emails and correspondence detailing Epstein’s connections to projects such as Bitcoin, Coinbase, and Blockstream.
$3 Million Investment in Coinbase in 2014
According to emails included in the documents, Jeffrey Epstein invested $3 million in Coinbase in December 2014. The correspondence shows that the investment was organized through Brock Pierce and his venture capital firm, Blockchain Capital. It is stated that Coinbase co-founder Fred Ehrsam was aware that the investment was made on Epstein’s behalf. The documents further reveal that in 2018 Epstein sold half of his Coinbase shares back to Blockchain Capital, converting part of his initial investment into cash worth approximately $15 million. At the time, Coinbase was valued at around $400 million, whereas today its market valuation has reached roughly $51 billion.
Called Bitcoin a “Brilliant Idea” in 2011
The documents also show that Epstein was closely following Bitcoin as early as 2011. In an email dated June 2011, Epstein described Bitcoin as a “brilliant idea,” suggesting that he took an interest in cryptocurrencies at a time when they were still largely unknown to the broader public. According to experts, this early interest indicates that Epstein may have viewed Bitcoin not merely as a speculative asset, but as a potential transformative force within the financial system.
Blockstream, Ripple, and Stellar Discussions
The documents indicate that Epstein made an early investment in Blockstream during the 2014–2015 period. Blockstream co-founder Adam Back stated today that the investment was indirect and that there was no direct financial relationship with Epstein. Correspondence from the same period also includes an email from Blockstream co-founder Austin Hill to Epstein, in which Hill harshly criticized the Ripple and Stellar projects.
In addition, the documents reveal that Epstein exchanged messages with Steve Bannon regarding cryptocurrency regulations and taxation policies. These communications suggest that Epstein attempted to build connections around the Trump administration to push for faster and more comprehensive consideration of crypto regulations. Overall, the documents indicate that Epstein viewed crypto not only as an investment opportunity, but also as a strategic area that could be shaped at the political and regulatory level.
Assessment
The released documents show that Jeffrey Epstein was not merely an investor in the early crypto sector, but an active participant engaging in idea exchanges and attempting to influence regulatory processes. His direct contact with projects as well as his communications with political circles on crypto regulation highlight the scope of his involvement. This picture brings a lesser-known and controversial aspect of crypto’s early history back into focus, while also raising new questions about the sector’s past.
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