Jeffrey Epstein Invested in Bitcoin Firm Blockstream, Invited Founder Adam Back to Island
In 2014, financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein invested in the Bitcoin technology company Blockstream during its seed round, after being introduced as a limited partner in Joi Ito’s MIT Media Lab fund. Emails show Epstein invited Blockstream co-founders Adam Back and Austin Hill to his private Caribbean island, but there is no clear evidence the visit took place. Back later clarified that all financial connections to Epstein ended when Ito’s fund divested its shares due to conflict of interest concerns. Emails also indicate Epstein had contact with other early Bitcoin figures, including Amir Taaki and venture capitalist Vincenzo Iozzo. The newly released Department of Justice documents further reveal Epstein invested $3 million in crypto exchange Coinbase in 2014 and sold part of his stake in 2018. Epstein’s involvement in cryptocurrency ventures was facilitated through relationships with startup investment funds, but public statements from those involved deny any continuing business ties.
