A recent wave of viral social media posts suggested a shocking theory: convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein supposedly invented Bitcoin.

The speculation gained traction after manipulated emails surfaced online, allegedly showing Epstein claiming he was behind the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto, the mysterious creator of Bitcoin.

But a closer look reveals the claims are entirely baseless. France24's Truth or Fake segment confirms the emails circulating on platforms like X, and Reddit are fabricated, and no such document appears in the official Epstein Files.

The Origins of the Bitcoin-Epstein Theory

The story traces back to a single email allegedly sent by Epstein to his close associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, on October 31, 2008. According to the viral posts, the email described Bitcoin as a "little digital gold mine ready for the world" and suggested Epstein had adopted the Satoshi Nakamoto pseudonym.

The circulating message reads:

"Ghislaine, the 'Satoshi' pseudonym is working perfectly. Our little digital gold mine is ready for the world. Funding secured."

Unsurprisingly, the provocative claim quickly sparked curiosity and conspiracy theories, given the secrecy surrounding Bitcoin's creation and Epstein's notoriety.

Why Experts Say the Email Is Fake

France24's investigation highlighted several key inconsistencies that expose the email as a forgery:

Formatting errors: The document features two "To:" lines, a clear sign it was doctored.

Mismatch in official archives: The U.S. Department of Justice's Epstein Files archive contains 24 results for the term "Satoshi," none of which match the viral email. The phrase "little digital gold mine" also appears nowhere in the official files.