Bitcoin Dev Demands Blockstream CEO Resign Over Epstein Links

Luke Dashjr, a longtime Bitcoin Core developer and early contributor to Blockstream, has publicly demanded that Blockstream co-founder and CEO Adam Back resign from all positions of authority. This call to action follows the release of millions of documents from the U.S. Department of Justice related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Dashjr’s statement, made via social media, framed the revelations as shedding light on what he termed Back’s “hostility” and “pro-spam gaslighting,” while also referencing a prior dispute over his recognition as a Blockstream co-founder. “I never knew how bad and how deep the corruption went,” Dashjr stated, urging Back to apologize to developers, investors, and Bitcoin enthusiasts.

The newly released files contain extensive references to the cryptocurrency industry. A tally shows Bitcoin mentioned 1,522 times, Coinbase 266 times, and Tether co-founder Brock Pierce a staggering 1,801 times. Adam Back himself is referenced 19 times within the documents. While the emails provide no evidence of wrongdoing by the individuals named, they have ignited intense scrutiny of the connections between Epstein’s network and the crypto sector during its nascent years. The documents confirm that Epstein invested $3 million in Coinbase in 2014, when the exchange was valued at roughly $400 million—a stark contrast to its current public market capitalization of approximately $45 billion.

The documents detail repeated interactions between Epstein and figures connected to Blockstream. Emails from 2014, years after Epstein’s initial conviction, show correspondence with Blockstream co-founder Austin Hill discussing potential meetings, including a proposed visit to Epstein’s private Caribbean island, Little Saint James. In a separate email to early Bitcoin developer Amir Taaki, Epstein claimed he had recently hosted “Andy Back” on the island, though it remains unclear if this was a misspelled reference to Adam Back or another individual. Little Saint James has since become emblematic of Epstein’s abuse network, described by prosecutors as a central site for trafficking and abusing underage girls.

In response to the document release, Adam Back confirmed that Epstein was briefly an investor in Blockstream. Back stated the investment came indirectly through a fund associated with then-MIT Media Lab director Joi Ito during Blockstream’s 2014 seed round, with Epstein described as a limited partner. The fund later divested. Back asserted that Blockstream has “no direct nor indirect financial connection with Jeffrey Epstein, or his estate.” However, he did not address the specific email references to a potential island visit. Blockstream, along with other entities named including Blockchain Capital and the Bitcoin Foundation, did not respond to subsequent requests for comment on the revelations.

The controversy has revived long-standing and deep-seated tensions between Dashjr and Back, who have publicly clashed for years over fundamental aspects of Bitcoin’s development, including governance, scaling, and the technical roadmap. Dashjr has previously accused Back and Blockstream of exerting outsized influence over Bitcoin’s direction—accusations Back has rejected. This latest episode, fueled by the Epstein document disclosures, has brought these underlying conflicts over authority and vision within the Bitcoin development community back to the forefront.

The implications extend beyond personal disputes, touching on the early funding and associations of foundational crypto companies. The documents underscore the sector’s historical connections to controversial figures during a period of rapid growth and capital formation. For the broader industry, the extensive mentions of major entities like Coinbase and individuals like Brock Pierce highlight how deeply Epstein’s network intersected with crypto’s early financial ecosystem. As the community grapples with these revelations, the episode underscores the ongoing challenges of governance, transparency, and legacy in the decentralized world of cryptocurrency.