An image purporting to show a 2008 email from Jeffrey Epstein to Ghislaine Maxwell referencing the “Satoshi” pseudonym and a “digital gold mine” has gone viral on social media, fuelling speculation that the disgraced financier may have been Bitcoin’s elusive creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, according to widely shared posts circulating online.
The screenshot surfaced following the US Department of Justice’s recent release of Epstein-related documents. However, a review of the official files shows the email does not appear in any authenticated records, indicating the image is a fabrication.
Despite being debunked, the claim briefly stirred debate within the cryptocurrency community and coincided with a short-term dip in Bitcoin’s price, which fell 9.6% to $64,770.
The Fabricated Email Claim
The image depicts an email dated 31 October 2008 — the same day Bitcoin’s whitepaper was published — allegedly sent from “jepstein@financial.net” to Maxwell. The message claims: “Ghislaine, the ‘Satoshi’ pseudonym is working perfectly. Our little digital gold mine is ready for the world. Funding secured.”
Proponents of the claim argued the email revealed Epstein as Bitcoin’s creator, potentially suggesting hidden financial or political motives.
However, inconsistencies quickly emerged. The email header includes repeated “To:” fields, and searches of the Justice Department’s Epstein document database show no records matching the email address, phrasing, or metadata contained in the screenshot, according to a review of the files released by the department.
As an Instagram post by verified account Tokyo Vice observed, ‘the header’s off, the tone’s buzzwordy, and there’s no clean provenance’.
Similar hoaxes have circulated previously, including a fabricated exchange in which Satoshi Nakamoto allegedly rejected contact from Epstein. Researchers note that Bitcoin’s creator has remained anonymous for more than 15 years, making the figure a frequent target of conspiracy theories and misinformation.
Epstein’s Documented Ties to Bitcoin
While the viral email itself is demonstrably false, Epstein did maintain verifiable connections to cryptocurrency-related projects after Bitcoin’s 2008 inception.
Financial records and internal correspondence included in court filings show Epstein indirectly supported Bitcoin Core developers through donations to the MIT Media Lab, totalling approximately $750,000. In 2015, he also provided funding to MIT’s Digital Currency Initiative, helping cover developer salaries during periods of financial strain.
A 2016 email has Epstein asserting he ‘spoke to the authors of Bitcoin’, noting their excitement over his ‘radical’ proposals. This implies a team effort, echoing certain hypotheses. He sought meetings with Gavin Andresen, who assumed Bitcoin maintenance after Satoshi’s 2011 exit.
EPSTEIN SPONSORED SATOSHI NAKAMOTO 🚨
There’s an email from Jeffrey Epstein. September 19, 2014.
He’s listing people for UN Climate Week in New York.
The usual suspects: Peter Thiel, Larry Summers, Bill Burns, Gordon Brown. Power players.
Then, between a Harvard professor and… pic.twitter.com/mfJcZn5UID
— Hanzo ㊗️ (@DeFi_Hanzo) November 17, 2025
Epstein also sought contact with Gavin Andresen, the developer who assumed maintenance of Bitcoin’s codebase after Satoshi Nakamoto stepped away in 2011. Emails show Epstein urging Andresen to speak by phone while praising Bitcoin’s long-term potential and warning of execution risks.
Andresen ultimately declined to meet Epstein in person, and no evidence suggests a deeper collaboration occurred.
Epstein’s personal scheduling records further listed ”satoshi (bitcoin)” as an attendee at a 2014 United Nations event. Whether the entry refers to an impersonator or a clerical error remains unclear, but it underscores Epstein’s broader pattern of attempting to gain access to influential figures in technology and finance.
Market Reaction and Community Response
The viral claim briefly unsettled markets, with Bitcoin falling to $60,074 before partially rebounding. On social media platforms including X and Reddit, most users dismissed the story as “FUD,” shorthand for fear, uncertainty and doubt, while others expressed concern over potential reputational damage to the cryptocurrency sector.
‘Bitcoin is open-source & auditable,’ an X poster remarked, highlighting its durability. Others flagged suspicious timing amid broader turmoil, hinting at market ploys.
Bitcoin was trading at approximately $64,770 as of 6 February 2026, having stabilised following the earlier decline.
International Business Times has reached out to the US Department of Justice and the MIT Media Lab for comment regarding the authenticity of the viral email and Epstein’s documented crypto-related activities but has not received a response at the time of publication.
Originally published on IBTimes UK
