Key Takeaways
- New documents reveal Epstein Bitcoin meetings involved Brock Pierce and Larry Summers, and the Bitcoin Core Development team.
- Pierce described himself as “the most active investor in Bitcoin” during 2011-era discussions, and he even met Satoshi at a conference in 2014.
- Unpublished New York Magazine article detailed the encounters at Epstein’s townhouse.
Table of Contents
High-Profile Bitcoin Discussions in Controversial Setting
Documents recently released from the Epstein estate show detailed Epstein Bitcoin meetings held at the financier’s Manhattan townhouse following his 2008 sex crime conviction. The emails show crypto entrepreneur Brock Pierce, co-founder of Tether, was engaged in Bitcoin discussions with former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, as Epstein tries to place himself as someone who connects crypto pioneers with power brokers in traditional finance. Documentation also reveals that Epstein helped fund the Bitcoin Core Development.
These Epstein Bitcoin meetings took place in a period when Bitcoin was a nascent technology still struggling for acceptance from the mainstream collective.
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Contrasting Perspectives on Early Crypto Adoption
Pierce conveyed at the Epstein Bitcoin meetings that he was a passionate Bitcoin supporter, whereas Summers showed measured interest, which was tempered by any reputational concerns.
According to email records, Summers acknowledged Bitcoin’s potential. However, he was still concerned about what engaging with a “wild fluctuation” could mean for his professional image, noting he could transition from being seen as “a figure of some probity and some intelligence to being a figure of much less intelligence and much less probity” if investments soured.
Pierce reportedly made it clear that the space was attracting some “low-quality characters” early on, while he retained a bullish mindset.
Epstein Bitcoin Meetings with the Bitcoin Core Development
Emails recently published by the House Oversight Committee reveal that Jeffrey Epstein funded Bitcoin Core development through “donations”, shedding light on Epstein’s network and influence in the early Bitcoin and crypto space.
To this point, the emails show:
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) underreported the donations
- Epstein’s visits were through back doors
- Meetings were not recorded
- Senior MIT officials approved the money privately
- Bitcoin devs were funded during the same period
Although none of this proves Epstein controlled anything in Bitcoin, it shows he was closer to the ecosystem than anyone imagined.
On the other hand, other Epstein emails revealed that he also met Satoshi at “Climate Summit” back in 2014.
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Unpublished Article Suggests a Deeper Network
The Epstein Bitcoin meetings were included in an unpublished 2015 New York Magazine report by journalist Alex Yablon, whose fact-checking specifically asked about a conversation between Pierce and Summers. Epstein’s reaction to the inquiry, forwarding questions to author Michael Wolff with the message “nfw” (no f***ing way), suggests the financier understood the sensitivity of these connections.
These findings offer insight into the idea that Epstein may have potentially played a larger facilitation role in Pierce’s informal networking than was previously acknowledged.
FAQs
What were the Epstein Bitcoin meetings about?
The Epstein Bitcoin meetings were discussions between Brock Pierce, a crypto entrepreneur, and Larry Summers, the former Treasury Secretary, about Bitcoin investment opportunities in the early 2010s and how the technology could be deployed.
Who participated in the Epstein Bitcoin meetings?
The Epstein Bitcoin meetings primarily included Tether co-founder Brock Pierce, former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, and, according to schedules, PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel was also present around the same period.
How was Epstein involved with the Bitcoin Core Development team and Satoshi Nakamoto?
According to the disclosed email in the Epstein case, he used to make “donations” to the team helping fund further development. Information also revealed that Epstein met Satoshi back in 2014 at the “Climate Summit.”
When did the Epstein Bitcoin meetings happen?
The Epstein Bitcoin meetings took place sometime after Epstein’s 2008 conviction, likely in 2011, after Epstein hosted a scientific conference called Mindshift in the Virgin Islands.
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