Egad, the newly unsealed Epstein files, unleashed upon the world on January 30th, have revealed a most peculiar entanglement with the crypto crowd during its salad days. What ho, it appears the fellow was thick as thieves with Bitcoin founders, investors, and whatnot, all while keeping his nose in the air about the whole business.
The documents, my dear reader, are a veritable smorgasbord of investment chatter, philosophical musings, and cozy tete-a-tetes with the grandees of Bitcoin’s ascent.
A “Sharia Coin” For the Saudis and Bitcoin Brainwaves
In 2016, old Epstein pitched a positively radical scheme to a Saudi royal advisor, involving not one but two digital currencies, including a “sharia” crypto tailored for the Muslim set. “I’ve had a chinwag with some of the Bitcoin founders,” he trilled in an email, “and they’re as excited as a schoolboy with a new bicycle.”
This, mind you, was no isolated bit of tomfoolery. In 2013, he received a forwarded briefing on Bitcoin’s viability as a payment system, and in 2011, he called Bitcoin “brilliant,” though he did warn of “serious downsides.” The man was clearly keeping his ear to the ground, even if his feet were in rather questionable places.
Epstein and Thiel: A Debate for the Ages
In a July 2014 exchange with the billionaire investor Peter Thiel, Epstein engaged in a positively nuanced discussion about Bitcoin’s essence. “There’s precious little agreement on what Bitcoin is,” he wrote, “store of value, currency, property… rather like a man presenting as a woman, it smells like property presenting as currency.”
“Do you think this is the first step in upping the anti-BTC pressure?” Thiel had inquired earlier. The exchange, my dear reader, is a masterclass in intellectual sparring, with Epstein drawing analogies to gender identity debates, of all things.
Epstein and Peter Thiel having an email exchange about Bitcoin in 2014.
– Brutal Truth Bombs (@FORTRESSMAXXING) January 31, 2026
But He Gave Bitcoin the Cold Shoulder in 2017
In a terse email dated August 31, 2017, someone asked Epstein: “Is it worth buying a bitcoin?” His reply? A single, resounding “No.” Despite his earlier curiosity, it seems he remained as skeptical as a wet blanket at a picnic.
Epstein’s Blockstream Adventure
A 2014 thread reveals Epstein’s involvement in the seed funding of Blockstream, one of Bitcoin’s most vital infrastructure firms. Co-founder Austin Hill emailed Epstein, Joi Ito (of MIT Media Lab fame), and Dr. Adam Back (a Bitcoin pioneer) to finalize allocations in the oversubscribed $18 million round.
“We’re 10 times oversubscribed,” Hill wrote, “so let’s bump your allocation from $50k to $500k.” Epstein, ever the opportunist, had earlier confirmed he’d invest through Ito’s fund.
This, my dear reader, is concrete proof that Epstein had his fingers in the Bitcoin pie. And let’s not forget that both Hill and Back were later included in travel coordination emails to Epstein’s island retreat. How’s that for a spot of networking?
Crypto Gossip and Epstein’s Ear
In another 2014 email, Hill warned Epstein, Ito, and Reid Hoffman (the LinkedIn chap) about rising tensions in the crypto world. He had a bone to pick with Ripple’s Jed McCaleb for launching Stellar, declaring: “Ripple and Jed’s new project are bad for the ecosystem… investors backing both are harming our company.”
This shows Epstein wasn’t just a passive investor-he was in the thick of it, privy to the internecine squabbles of early blockchain circles.
Michael Saylor: The Zombie of Crypto
A 2010 message from society publicist Peggy Siegal mentions Michael Saylor, now known as Bitcoin’s most vocal corporate cheerleader. “Saylor is a complete creep,” she wrote, “a zombie on a drug with no personality.” The context was a high-profile gala, but it confirms Saylor was socially linked to Epstein long before crypto became his public persona.
The Epstein files include an email describing Michael Saylor as “a complete creep,” comparing him to a drug-addled zombie with no social awareness.
– Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) January 31, 2026
Kevin Warsh: Fed Chair and Epstein Guest
One of the more politically charged revelations: Trump’s newly nominated Fed Chair Kevin Warsh appears in Epstein’s records. His name pops up in a 2010 invite list for a New Year’s party in St. Barts, alongside Roman Abramovich and Martha Stewart.
Just a day after being nominated as Fed chair, Kevin Warsh’s name appears in the newly released Epstein files👀
– BeInCrypto (@beincrypto) January 31, 2026
Warsh, a former Fed governor, has been quite the crypto enthusiast, supporting Bitcoin and CBDC reform. No allegations of misconduct, mind you, but the timing has certainly raised a few eyebrows.
No Crypto Shenanigans, Thank You Very Much
Importantly, investigators have not found any crypto wallets, blockchain transactions, or crypto-enabled crimes in Epstein’s records. The DOJ confirms that while many details are unverified, there’s no indication Epstein used Bitcoin for laundering or evasion. His role in crypto seems limited to that of a high-level networker, occasional investor, and curious observer.
The Crypto Crowd in Epstein’s Orbit
| Name | Role in Crypto | Epstein Link |
| Michael Saylor | MicroStrategy CEO, Bitcoin bull | Attended Epstein-hosted gala in 2010 |
| Peter Thiel | PayPal co-founder, Bitcoin investor | Debated Bitcoin’s meaning with Epstein via email |
| Adam Back | Blockstream CEO, Bitcoin pioneer | Involved in email with investment + travel planning |
| Austin Hill | Blockstream co-founder | Coordinated $18M round, included Epstein in seed list |
| Joi Ito | MIT Media Lab ex-director | Channel for Epstein’s Blockstream investment |
| Kevin Warsh | Fed Chair nominee, crypto-friendly voice | Named in Epstein’s 2010 guest list |
Tangential, But Dashingly Real Crypto Links
Epstein wasn’t a secret crypto whale, but the documents reveal he was more embedded in Bitcoin’s early circles than previously thought. He funded infrastructure projects, followed debates, and rubbed shoulders with industry architects. In the crypto space, proximity often means influence, and that, my dear reader, makes these revelations all the more intriguing.
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2026-02-02 04:56