The Epstein Files: What We Really Know About Bitcoin and the Global Power Grid
The recent release of the latest batch of Epstein files has caused ripples around the world. In the U.K. both Prince Andrew and Lord Mandelson have been arrested, the CEO of the World Economic Forum Børge Brende resigned due to revelations about his ties to Epstein. Several public figures and corporate CEOs have resigned, and the Bitcoin community was left reeling by revelations that Epstein had funded Bitcoin Core developers as well as investing money into Blockstream, the company founded by Adam Back whose hashcash technology forms part of the Bitcoin tech stack.
Do these revelations affirm what many believe, that Bitcoin is a form of dark money utilised and controlled by bad actors? Let’s take a look at what we know so far.
The Recent Disclosure
Despite promises Trump made while running for office, getting any meaningful Epstein files released has been painful at best. The latest trove of documents was released in early 2026. This achievement spearheaded by Representatives Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna aimed to reveal the full extent of Epstein’s influence networks, which the Department of Justice had previously withheld or redacted. This latest release provides a window into the sordid world of the parasitic class, sometimes called “elites” for whom the law is theoretical.
Conspiracy theorists seem to have been proven right about Pizzagate. We discovered that Bill Gates had allegedly tried to secretly medicate his wife after giving her an STD he caught from a Russian prostitute, and we also learned that Epstein had a profound interest in Bitcoin, having invested in funding Bitcoin’s Core developers and Bitcoin start ups back in 2014.
Blockstream and the Epstein Connection
One of the most troubling revelations to Bitcoiners involves Adam Back and his company, Blockstream. Records show that in 2014, Epstein invested $500,000 in Blockstream’s seed round through a vehicle called Kyara Investments III, an entity that was co-owned 50/50 by Jeffrey Epstein (via Southern Financial LLC) and Joi Ito, the former director of the MIT Media Lab. Joi contributed $2000 to the venture with Epstein contributing the $500,001. The transaction was facilitated by Reid Hoffman, founder of Linkedin.
This happened six years after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for procuring minors for prostitution. Former banker and Bitcoin influencer, Simon Dixon’s research reveals that Epstein didn’t just send money; he reportedly met face-to-face with leadership at both Blockstream and Coinbase.
While it is disturbing that such a figure was involved, it is important to understand the context of the time. In 2014, the Bitcoin industry was in its infancy. Startups were desperate for capital, and many founders were focused purely on the technology, perhaps not vetting every “angel” investor with the scrutiny we would expect today. However, the fact remains that Epstein was a known criminal at the time of the investment.
Adam Back is a revered figure in the Bitcoin ecosystem, being one of the few people named by Satoshi in his Bitcoin Whitepaper release October 31st, 2008. Adam’s “hashcash” technology forms part of the Bitcoin tech stack, and he is widely regarded as an authority on Bitcoin and has a reputation as a “good actor”.
Below is how Adam responded to the revelations. While he describes the facts around the investment, he does not address the diligence that was, or wasn’t done, and whether his team was aware of Epstein’s conviction but chose to ignore it and take the money anyway.
Infiltration vs. Control
The narrative that Epstein “co-opted” Bitcoin is a popular one, but the reality is more nuanced. While Epstein certainly attempted to gain a foothold in the industry, likely to facilitate shadow finance and gain leverage over tech founders, he quickly discovered that Bitcoin is designed to resist control.
Public records and internal documents suggest that Epstein’s vehicle, Kyara Investments, exited its position in Blockstream relatively quickly. By the time Blockstream raised its Series A in February 2016, Epstein was no longer a part of the capital structure. This suggests that while he tried to control the “pipes” of the new financial system, the decentralised nature of the technology made it impossible for him to maintain the kind of “gatekeeper” status he enjoyed in traditional finance.
The New Overlords: Cantor and Lutnick
The Epstein story isn’t just about the past; it’s about the players currently moving into the space. Blockstream recently partnered with Cantor Fitzgerald, the firm led by Howard Lutnick, who is now the US Secretary of Commerce. They launched a Special Purpose Acquisition Vehicle (SPAC) designed to allow his son, Brandon Lutnick, to acquire massive amounts of Bitcoin.
Howard Lutnick was Jeffrey Epstein’s neighbor and, despite his previous denials, evidence in the latest file release shows that Lutnick’s relationship with Epstein was far less “casual” than he implied. This new partnership raises serious questions about whether the old power structures Epstein served are simply rebranding themselves as the new custodians of Bitcoin.
For more detail on Cantor’s involvement with Bitcoin and Stablecoins, see our previous article Tethered to Trouble HERE.
The Deeper Theory: Energy and Truth
Dr. Jack Kruse, in his interview with Simon Dixon takes this further. He argues that we are seeing a “Technical-Industrial Complex” where tech overlords use technology to weaponise energy and surveillance. Kruse views the recent legal attacks on privacy tools like the Samourai Wallet (the “Samurai Take Down”) as part of a coordinated effort to force users into “compliant” systems managed by the likes of Larry Fink and Howard Lutnick.
Kruse’s theory is that Bitcoin was created as a truth system to escape these structures, but the elites are now attempting a “psyop” to centralise it. Whether you subscribe to the full extent of these theories or not, the connections revealed in the Epstein Files remind us that the fight for Bitcoin is really a fight for who controls the future of human energy and privacy. Watch the full interview with Jack Kruse below.
Summary
Despite these revelations, at least for now it seems clear that Bitcoin itself remains a neutral tool for sovereignty, but the institutions being built around it are often made of the same old cloth. We must keep our eyes on the players, understand the history of their funding, and continue to prioritise self-custody and privacy.
📺 For more context, you can watch the interview with Simon Dixon on BTC Sessions where these connections are discussed in detail HERE.
Individuals arrested, charged or resigned in connection with Epstein:
Arrested
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor (former Prince Andrew): Arrested February 19, 2026, on suspicion of misconduct in public office for allegedly sharing sensitive information with Epstein while a UK trade envoy. Previously stripped of royal titles in 2025.
SOURCEPeter Mandelson (former UK ambassador to the US, Labour Party member, House of Lords member): Arrested February 23, 2026, on suspicion of misconduct in public office for allegedly leaking confidential government information to Epstein in 2009; released on bail the next day. Also resigned from Labour Party, House of Lords, and other roles in early February 2026.
SOURCEThorbjørn Jagland (former Norwegian Prime Minister): Charged with aggravated corruption in February 2026 due to ties including gifts, travel, and loans from Epstein.
SOURCE (referenced in multiple reports)
Resigned
Børge Brende (former president and CEO of the World Economic Forum): Resigned February 26 or 28, 2026, after revelations of post-2008 correspondence and meetings with Epstein.
SOURCELawrence Summers (former Harvard University professor and president, ex-US Treasury Secretary): Announced resignation from Harvard teaching (effective end of academic year) and OpenAI roles on February 25, 2026, after emails showed ongoing ties and advice-seeking from Epstein post-2008.
SOURCE (related coverage; updated fallout)Richard Axel (Nobel Prize-winning neuroscientist, former co-director of Columbia University’s Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute): Resigned February 24, 2026, from Columbia and Howard Hughes Medical Institute roles due to yearslong post-2008 relationship with Epstein.
SOURCEPeter Attia (longevity expert, former CBS News contributor): Resigned February 23, 2026, after mid-2010s emails with Epstein surfaced, including discussions about women.
SOURCEThomas Pritzker (former executive chairman of Hyatt Hotels): Resigned February 16, 2026, after emails showed continued contact with Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell post-2008.
SOURCEKathryn Ruemmler (former chief legal officer and general counsel at Goldman Sachs): Announced resignation February 12, 2026 (effective June 30), after emails revealed a close post-2008 relationship, including gifts and advice to Epstein.
SOURCESultan Ahmed bin Sulayem (former chairman and CEO of DP World): Resigned February 13, 2026, after emails showed a yearslong post-2008 friendship with Epstein.
SOURCEBrad Karp (former chairman of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison law firm): Resigned February 4, 2026, after emails detailed a years long post-2008 relationship with Epstein.
SOURCEMona Juul (former Norwegian ambassador to Jordan and Iraq): Resigned February 8 or 9, 2026, after Epstein’s will left $10 million to her children; also under investigation for gross corruption.
SOURCEMiroslav Lajčák (former national security adviser to Slovakia’s Prime Minister): Resigned end of January 2026 after post-2008 messages with Epstein about women and foreign affairs surfaced.
SOURCEJack Lang (former head of the Arab World Institute in Paris, ex-French Culture Minister): Resigned February 6 or 7, 2026, amid an investigation into financial ties to Epstein, including aggravated tax fraud laundering.
SOURCEDavid A. Ross (former department chair at the School of Visual Arts in New York City): Resigned early February 2026 after 2009 emails about a controversial exhibition proposed by Epstein.
SOURCEMorgan McSweeney (former chief of staff to the UK Prime Minister): Resigned February 11, 2026, taking responsibility for the appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador.
SOURCEJoanna Rubinstein (former chair of Sweden for the UN Refugee Agency): Resigned February 2, 2026, after a 2012 family visit to Epstein’s private island was revealed.
SOURCE