Compass Investments

Recent speculation surrounding the Epstein Correspondence, a voluminous set of materials relating to the case of US financier Jeffrey Epstein, has revealed that he invested three million dollars in cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase over a decade ago.

According to documents released by the US Department of Justice, Epstein provided funds to Coinbase through Brock Pierce’s firm Blockchain Capital in 2014.

“It’s not entirely clear if that deal actually took place, but there’s a lot of talk in the papers about investing in Coinbase, said Bitcoin researcher Kyle Torpy.

It is believed that this purchase provided Epstein with a face-to-face meeting with Coinbase co-founder Fred Ehrsam. In a screenshot from the leaked emails, the name “Jeff” is mentioned alongside Ersam, suggesting Ersam’s familiarity with his involvement with Coinbase.

“I have some time gap today between noon and three o’clock, but again, it’s not critical for me, however it would be nice to cross paths with him if it’s convenient for him. How important is that to him?”

Four years later, in 2018, another email confirmed Epstein receiving a dividend from Coinbase. He later apparently gave half of the shares back to Blockchain Capital for about eleven million dollars.

In 2008, a Florida court convicted Epstein of forcing a minor into prostitution and sexual assault.

Blockstream CEO Adam Beck, meanwhile, denied the allegations in Epstein’s correspondence about his ongoing relationship with the convict.

Back wrote on Platform X, “Blockstream has no direct or indirect financial relationship with Jeffrey Epstein or his assets.

In a July 2014 filing released by the U.S. Department of Justice, Blockstream co-founder Austin Hill is reported to have discussed the company’s initial funding with Epstein and Joey Ito, then head of the MIT Media Lab.

In a report published Monday, Adam Beck clarified that Blockstream did have contact with Jeffrey Epstein, who was characterized at the time as a limited partner in Ito’s fund.