Epstein Emails Reference Bitcoin Meeting With Brock Pierce at Manhattan Mansion

Cryptocurrency entrepreneur Brock Pierce discussed Bitcoin with former U.S. Treasury Secretary Larry Summers at Jeffrey Epstein’s Manhattan townhouse, according to a series of emails released by the disgraced financier’s estate. This exchange occurred after Epstein’s conviction as a sex offender in 2008 and was set to be referenced in a 2015 article in New York Magazine. However, the magazine appears never to have published the story, which highlighted several high-profile guests of Epstein.

During the meeting, Brock Pierce, co-founder of stablecoin issuer Tether, described himself to Summers as "the most active investor in Bitcoin," according to a draft of the article included in the emails. Summers, who is also a former Harvard University president, saw "opportunities" in Bitcoin but expressed concern over potential damage to his reputation. "I could go from being seen as a figure of some probity and some intelligence to being a figure of much less intelligence and much less probity," Summers noted, addressing Bitcoin’s rapid price fluctuations. Pierce reportedly acknowledged the risks, commenting that, "You’re going to have some low-quality characters playing early in the space."

Pierce’s connection to Epstein had previously been documented, including a 2011 visit to the Virgin Islands for a scientific conference hosted by Epstein, called Mindshift. A spokesperson for Pierce emphasized in 2019 that their interactions were limited and focused on cryptocurrency, stating that Epstein and Pierce crossed paths primarily at industry events involving other prominent individuals. However, the recently disclosed materials suggest that Epstein may have played a more significant role in Pierce's business connections, linking him to influential figures in finance and academia during Bitcoin’s early days.

Peter Thiel, PayPal’s co-founder and a noted cryptocurrency investor, is also mentioned in the emails alongside Summers and Pierce. Thiel’s Founders Fund reportedly became one of the earliest institutional investors in Bitcoin in 2014, according to Reuters. The article specifies that Epstein’s interactions with Summers, Pierce, and possibly Thiel took place after his 2008 conviction. Emails show that journalist Alex Yablon was conducting fact-checking for the article in March 2015, raising questions about Epstein’s meetings with Pierce and Summers.

When Yablon sent fact-checking inquiries, Epstein forwarded them to author Michael Wolff with the cryptic response, "nfw" (short for "no fucking way"). Epstein also shared Yablon’s questions with his lawyer Darren Indyke, who later became co-executor of Epstein’s estate. Around the same time, Wolff reportedly advised Epstein on how to leverage his history with Donald Trump, then a presidential candidate, for potential political influence. Wolff later denied aiding Epstein, describing the relationship as a means to gain greater access to power.