Epstein funded Blockstream and debated Bitcoin with Peter Thiel, files show

The newly unsealed Epstein files, released on January 30, show Jeffrey Epstein funded early crypto firm Blockstream and exchanged messages about Bitcoin with figures including Peter Thiel and Adam Back. A 2014 email thread reveals Epstein’s involvement in Blockstream’s oversubscribed $18 million seed round, where co-founder Austin Hill asked recipients to bump allocations from $50,000 to $500,000; Epstein had earlier confirmed he would invest through Joi Ito’s fund.

The documents record ideological exchanges about Bitcoin. In a July 2014 chain with Peter Thiel, Epstein wrote, "There is little agreement on what Bitcoin is… store of value, currency, property… like man presenting as woman, smells like property presenting as currency," and Thiel asked, "Do you think this is the first step in upping the anti-BTC pressure?" Other entries include a 2016 pitch from Epstein proposing two digital currencies, including a "sharia" crypto for Muslim countries; a 2011 note calling Bitcoin "brilliant" but warning of "serious downsides"; and a one-word 2017 reply—"No"—when asked if it was worth buying a bitcoin.

The files also tie Epstein socially to Michael Saylor (a 2010 gala email referenced Saylor giving $25,000 and called him "a complete creep") and list Kevin Warsh on a 2010 guest list for a St. Barts party. They contain industry gossip—Austin Hill warned about tensions around Ripple, Stellar and Jed McCaleb—and travel coordination involving Adam Back and Austin Hill.

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