- Jeffrey Epstein invested $3 million in Coinbase’s 2014 funding round.
- Deal brokered by Brock Pierce, with Fred Ehrsam aware of Epstein’s involvement.
- Epstein also backed Bitcoin developer Blockstream through a separate fund in 2014.
American financier Jeffrey Epstein made an early investment in cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase Global Inc. in 2014, several years following his initial prosecution and imprisonment by U.S. authorities. The investment totaled approximately $3 million and was executed through a U.S. Virgin Islands-based entity named IGO Company LLC, according to emails released by the Department of Justice.
Epstein had pleaded guilty to two prostitution charges in state court six years prior to the Coinbase investment, serving 13 months of an 18-month sentence. The transaction was arranged on his behalf by Brock Pierce, a cryptocurrency billionaire and former child actor who served as managing partner at venture fund Blockchain Capital at the time. Brad Stephens, co-founder of Blockchain Capital, also participated in the transaction.
Coinbase Co-founder’s Involvement in the Transaction
Fred Ehrsam, Coinbase co-founder, appears to have been aware of Epstein’s participation in the funding round. During negotiations surrounding the investment, Ehrsam attempted to arrange a meeting with Epstein via Blockchain Capital, according to email correspondence. Whether this meeting occurred remains unclear based on available documentation.
The disclosures were included in the latest release of the Epstein files by the U.S. Department of Justice in February 2026. The collection includes thousands of pages of material related to Epstein’s financial activities and business dealings, with some portions heavily redacted.
Epstein’s stake represented less than 1% of Coinbase during the 2014 transaction, valuing the company at approximately $400 million at that time. Blockchain Capital later attempted to acquire portions of Epstein’s investment position in 2018.
Epstein also appears to have considered additional investment in Coinbase around that period as part of the cryptocurrency exchange’s Series E funding round. The company completed its public listing in 2021 and currently maintains a market value approaching $50 billion.
Coinbase was not Epstein’s only cryptocurrency investment activity. He also provided backing to Bitcoin developer Blockstream through another fund during 2014, according to email records.
Epstein’s stake in Blockstream was sold several months following the initial investment “due to a potential conflict of interest, and other concerns,” according to Blockstream Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer Adam Back. The company maintains no direct or indirect financial connections to Epstein’s estate, Back stated.
Related: Adam Back Responds as Epstein Files Mention Blockstream
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