Newly unsealed Epstein files released on January 30 show Jeffrey Epstein had extensive contact with early Bitcoin figures and projects, though no evidence links him to illicit crypto use.
The documents reveal Epstein discussed Bitcoin’s design and future with prominent investors and founders years before mainstream adoption, including debates over its identity as money, property or a store of value.
“There is little agreement on what Bitcoin is… store of value, currency, property,”
Epstein wrote in a 2014 email exchange with Peter Thiel, adding that:
“It smells like property presenting as currency.”
Emails also confirm Epstein participated in an early funding round for Blockstream, with co-founder Austin Hill discussing allocation increases in the oversubscribed $18 million seed raise alongside Adam Back and Joi Ito.
Separate correspondence shows Epstein was looped into internal disputes within crypto’s early ecosystem, including tensions between Ripple and Stellar, indicating he received insider commentary rather than acting as a decision-maker.
The files additionally reference social or professional links to figures later central to crypto and monetary policy debates, including Michael Saylor and Kevin Warsh, though without allegations of wrongdoing.
US investigators said there is no indication Epstein used Bitcoin or other digital assets for criminal purposes, characterising his crypto involvement as that of a well-connected observer and occasional investor rather than an active operator.
At the time of reporting, Bitcoin price was $77,173.91.