Newly released documents from the case of Jeffrey Epstein show that he was discussing cryptocurrency years before it went mainstream.
Emails from 2018 reportedly mention conversations about crypto policy and meetings involving Gary Gensler, who later became Chair of the SEC. In one email, Epstein told former U.S. Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers that Gensler had arrived early for crypto-related talks. Summers reportedly replied that he knew Gensler and considered him intelligent.
There is no clear evidence in the released documents that Epstein had direct influence over any crypto policy decisions. But records suggest he invested millions in early crypto ventures. Reports say he put about $3 million into Coinbase back in 2014.
Some emails also referenced XRP and Stellar, leading to speculation that he may have had exposure to those projects. However, the documents do not clearly confirm specific investments.
There are also mentions of early stablecoin efforts, including links to Circle and connections tied to Brock Pierce. Reports say Pierce sought Epstein’s help in connecting with Summers during that period.
In addition, some claims suggest Epstein helped fund early central bank digital currency (CBDC) pilot programs connected to MIT and certain Federal Reserve Banks. Gensler was teaching at MIT at the time and was active in academic discussions around crypto regulation before joining government service.
Overall, the documents paint a picture of Epstein exploring crypto investments and staying close to policy and academic circles during the early days of digital assets — long before crypto became a major part of global finance.
