Morning Minute: Epstein Was an Early Coinbase Investor

Core Insights - Jeffrey Epstein made a $3 million investment in Coinbase in December 2014, arranged by Tether co-founder Brock Pierce and Blockchain Capital at a $400 million valuation. Coinbase is now valued at approximately $51 billion [2][3] - Coinbase co-founder Fred Ehrsam was aware of Epstein's involvement, as indicated by an email where he expressed interest in meeting Epstein [2][3] - Epstein cashed out half of his stake in Coinbase in 2018 for nearly $15 million, retaining the other half until his death in 2019 [4] Industry Context - The revelation of Epstein's investment raises questions about the early funding sources and the individuals behind significant investments in the cryptocurrency industry [5][7] - The investment occurred during a time when the cryptocurrency sector was less regulated, and due diligence practices were still developing [7]