According to Odaily, recent revelations from emails have highlighted Jeffrey Epstein's multiple connections to the early Bitcoin ecosystem.
In terms of financial support, Epstein donated $850,000 to MIT between 2002 and 2017, with some of these funds supporting the MIT Digital Currency Initiative (DCI). During a financial crisis faced by the Bitcoin Foundation, DCI paid salaries to Bitcoin Core developers such as Gavin Andresen and Wladimir van der Laan. Epstein visited MIT nine times, meeting privately with staff, while his identity was kept confidential internally.
Regarding industry connections, email records indicate that Epstein met with Tether co-founder Brock Pierce and former U.S. Treasury Secretary Larry Summers at his Manhattan residence to discuss Bitcoin. Additionally, in 2018, Epstein sought advice from Steve Bannon on cryptocurrency taxation, token transactions, and distribution rules. Bannon subsequently introduced him to FEC experts and seasoned figures in the crypto industry.
Amazon transaction records reveal that Epstein purchased books on Bitcoin, Ethereum, and blockchain in 2017. The disclosed emails suggest that MIT concealed the donations and did not document Epstein's visits. Although there is no evidence of Epstein influencing Bitcoin's development, the information indicates his connections with developers, regulators, politicians, and early investors were more extensive than previously known.
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