Epstein Files Reveal Cryptocurrency Monitoring: 2019 Coinbase Controversy Landed in Financier's Inbox
Documents from the Jeffrey Epstein case unsealed this week reveal the disgraced financier was forwarded internal discussions and news detailing a major 2019 controversy surrounding cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase, highlighting his monitoring of digital asset markets.
The email, dated March 12, 2019, was sent to Epstein by New York-based finance consultant Richard Kahn, a frequent source of market analysis in the files. Its subject line flagged a "massive controversy" for Coinbase, specifically referencing the exchange's recent acquisition of blockchain analytics startup Neutrino and mentioning Ripple's XRP token.
This correspondence landed in Epstein's inbox at the peak of industry backlash. Coinbase had acquired Neutrino in late February 2019, a move that immediately drew fire after it was revealed Neutrino's founders had prior roles at Hacking Team—a surveillance software firm linked to human rights abuses by global watchdogs.
The fallout was swift and severe. Privacy advocates and users accused Coinbase of hypocrisy, launching the #DeleteCoinbase boycott campaign. The timing compounded scrutiny: just weeks prior, Coinbase had listed XRP for trading, raising questions about its listing standards and market influence. Kraken CEO Jesse Powell added to the fire, stating publicly that Neutrino would have failed his exchange's ethical review process.
Facing intense pressure, Coinbase soon announced that Neutrino employees with Hacking Team backgrounds would depart.
Analysts note the email reflects the era's climate of suspicion, where crypto governance, data surveillance, and regulatory fears often merged in public discourse. "The Epstein files show he had a front-row seat to crypto's growing pains," said financial historian Dr. Evelyn Reed. "He wasn't just watching prices; he was tracking crises that shook industry trust."
This email is among several crypto references in the latest document dump. Other records show Epstein discussing Bitcoin's anonymity with investor Peter Thiel, holding an early stake in infrastructure firm Blockstream, and maintaining social ties to figures like MicroStrategy's Michael Saylor and former Fed governor Kevin Warsh. While investigators found no evidence linking cryptocurrency to Epstein's criminal activities, the documents suggest a consistent pattern of tracking the asset class where finance, regulation, and elite networks converged.
— Commentary from readers:
Marcus Chen, Tech Compliance Officer: "This isn't surprising. Powerful figures have always tracked emerging markets for advantage. The real story is how a compliance failure at Coinbase became gossip for the elite."
Priya Sharma, Crypto Journalist: "It's a chilling reminder of who was watching. The Neutrino scandal was a community-driven backlash, yet it was being dissected in the most sinister of circles."
David R. Miller, Commentator: "More Epstein sensationalism. So he got an email? This proves nothing about crypto. It just proves media will drag anything into that man's orbit for clicks. Distraction from the real regulatory issues."
Professor Lena Wu, Economic Crime Researcher: "The through-line isn't crypto itself, but information flow. These files show how market-moving controversies were quickly funneled to influential, connected individuals."