currency_exchange

crypto

Epstein's Crypto Empire

Coinbase, Blockstream, and the architecture of financial invisibility

segment 5 Sections

description 39 Documents

link 3 Sources

Virtual Currency Origins (2009-2013)

Epstein's interest in cryptocurrency predates Bitcoin's mainstream acceptance. Boris Nikolic discussed "making money of virtual money." Philip Rosedale (creator of Second Life) explained blockchain. Steven Sinofsky reported being "up 50% on my BTC investment."

folder_open Early crypto discussions

Nikolic, Rosedale, and Sinofsky on virtual currency and Bitcoin

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EFTA01937571 SUPPORTING 'have some inquiries from some interesting people, re a bitcoin type currency, wait until you hear'

EFTA01939450 HIGH Epstein sends Reid ABC News link about Silk Road drug prosecution arrests

EFTA01928622 CRITICAL Joi to Epstein + Reid + Joshua Ramo: 'MIT BitCoin project. I'm involved in this. This should be interesting.'

EFTA02104738 SUPPORTING Assistants schedule dedicated Bitcoin Skype call between Epstein and Hoffman

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The Coinbase Investment ($15M)

Brock Pierce brokered Epstein's $15M Coinbase investment during the C round (2014). Richard Kahn tracked Coinbase news obsessively. Epstein asked Reid Hoffman for inside valuation data. By March 2019, Pierce reported "$15M ($12M net gain)" — four months before arrest.

folder_open Coinbase investment correspondence

Pierce pitches "biggest player in Bitcoin sector"; Kahn forwards news; $12B valuation by 2018

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EFTA02597021 HIGH Epstein: 'lesley will coordinate. coinbase is closing c round. this week? should i play? how hard?' Hoffman: 'I don't know that much internal on coinbase; I probably wouldn't play.'

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EFTA02535707 NUCLEAR Epstein: 'any idea about coinbase. current valuation? I assume you kept your bitcoin position from in the foundation that you funded when we were together in calif at the pool with joi. btw I will help with his fund.' Hoffman: 'We invested at $49.52 per share, which equates to $1.6b market cap.'

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Blockstream & Austin Hill

Austin Hill, Blockstream co-founder, visited Epstein in Montreal (July 2014). Blockstream developed privacy-focused Bitcoin technology including the Liquid Network for confidential transactions — technology designed for "total deniability." A crypto hedge fund spreadsheet was discussed.

folder_open Blockstream correspondence

Hill in Montreal; Blockstream co-founder at comedy show; counter-surveillance crypto discussions

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EFTA02709756 MEDIUM Hoffman sends ICYMI newsletter to Epstein Feb 2015 - includes What is Bitcoin article

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Jeremy Rubin: Crypto Scout

MIT computer scientist Jeremy Rubin served as Epstein's cryptocurrency investment scout — reviewing pitches for LedgerX ($6M Series B), Layer1 (Bitcoin mining), and Boltzmann Analytics (blockchain analysis). Investments were structured through SPVs for deniable ownership.

folder_open Rubin crypto deal flow

LedgerX pitch deck; Layer1 mining; Boltzmann Analytics; SPV structures

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Stone Ridge & Institutional Crypto

Stone Ridge Asset Management ($15B AUM) forwarded a crypto NDA to Epstein in April 2018. The firm later launched NYDIG, one of the largest institutional Bitcoin custodians. Ripple and DGTLX (digital asset index) connections were also explored.