Newly released emails show that Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender who died in 2019, was closely monitoring cryptocurrency regulation and taxes and sought to influence U.S. policy.
In 2018, Epstein contacted Steve Bannon, former chief strategist to President Donald Trump, to discuss ways to engage the Treasury Department on crypto matters. Epstein described cryptocurrency as both a domestic tax concern and a global issue.
In February 2018, Epstein asked Bannon whether the Treasury would respond to his questions or if another channel was needed. Bannon replied that the matter was being reviewed by the National Security Council. Epstein noted that the Treasury’s office of terrorism finance was already considering crypto taxes.
Epstein suggested the Treasury create a voluntary disclosure form for realised crypto gains to target “bad actors.” He also discussed hypothetical scenarios, such as paying for goods with Bitcoin and reporting taxable gains.
The emails show Epstein met with key figures in the cryptocurrency industry, including Brock Pierce, co-founder of Tether. Epstein also criticised Facebook’s Libra stablecoin in 2019, warning it could threaten the financial system if mismanaged.
Texts suggest Epstein compared cryptocurrency to the internet and called for international coordination. He warned that without proper oversight, crypto could operate as “a Ponzi scheme outside of the law.”
The documents indicate Epstein was actively tracking cryptocurrency developments and sought to influence early U.S. policy discussions, years before regulators established clear guidance.
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