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The latest Epstein Files release did not just revisit old scandals. It, rather surprisingly, exposed a web of connections between convicted offender Jeffrey Epstein and key figures in crypto’s early days, including Brock Pierce, former child actor turned Bitcoin Foundation chair and co-founder of Blockchain Capital, Tether, EOS, and OMNI. Unverified suggestions have also surfaced linking him to the creation of Bitcoin or having links to Satoshi Nakamoto.
Published by the U.S. Department of Justice on January 27, 2026, the documents detail meetings, investor updates, and financial ties that raise uncomfortable questions about crypto’s origins without directly implicating the industry in Epstein’s crimes.
The files show Epstein invested $3 million in Coinbase through Blockchain Capital in December 2014, which secured him a face-to-face meeting with co-founder Fred Ehrsam. He later sold 50% of the stake back to the firm for around $11 million.
It shouldn’t be a surprise at this point that Epstein was investing and influencing Coinbase as an early supporter.
What makes perfect sense now looking back is why Coinbase was refusing to list XRP on its platform. https://t.co/HmUGMRQeMA pic.twitter.com/MQJQ8o3CW4
— Chad Steingraber (@ChadSteingraber) February 3, 2026
This investment predates Coinbase’s mainstream rise and happened during Pierce’s push into crypto ventures. The investment formed part of a series of correspondence where Pierce relayed pre-IPO Coinbase updates to Epstein, their business relationship blending seamlessly into an already existing personal relationship.
Their connection began in 2011, years before Pierce’s major crypto projects. The documents also include emails arranging in-person and remote meetings. One 2018 note from Pierce to Epstein reading: “Would love to connect with you in Puerto Rico over the next few days if possible. Have the people here now who are relevant to the conversation we should be having.”
A 2018 email from Brock Pierce to Epstein. pic.twitter.com/xblJoqiGxb
— Kate Brannen (@K8brannen) January 30, 2026
Community reactions on X have been a messy blend of possible to bizarre conspiracy theories and assumptions, linking Epstein’s investment and relationship with Pierce to Coinbase’s reluctance to list XRP on its platform.
However, amid the speculation and theories, it is important to note that at this stage, no evidence in the files supports criminal collaboration beyond financial ties. All that has been revealed is evidence of Epstein being included in the early-stage discussions.
Pierce’s impressive resume is not in question. He currently chairs the Bitcoin Foundation, co-founded Tether (now the largest stablecoin issuer), and launched EOS and OMNI. The files tie these to Epstein without alleging wrongdoing, but the unlikely association brings back the scrutiny on crypto’s early funding and networks.
Jeffrey Epstein invested $3 million in Coinbase in 2014, it appears. BTW, Epstein doesn’t invest in his own name. He invested in Blockstream through Digital Garage and funded Bitcoin core devs through MIT.
I am now guessing that he might have invested through Brock Pierce’s… pic.twitter.com/3NYPsATsnr
— Aaron Day (@AaronRDay) February 3, 2026
For a sector that’s always under watchful eyes, it shows that building credibility is always an ongoing challenge as anything, even personal relationships, can be called upon or looked into. Although no direct illegality has been proven yet, the problem of opaque funding into foundational projects is one that could keep coming back.
For users and investors, it’s a reminder to demand better due diligence on origins. For the industry, it’s a call to distance from problematic figures and things that could slow down the current momentum of institutional trust while focusing on innovation.
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