File 029087
Email from Jeremy Rubin on Bitcoin and FDA Appointments (File 029087)
Email from cryptocurrency researcher Jeremy Rubin to Jeffrey Epstein discussing Bitcoin policy, FDA appointees, and his teaching engagement in Japan, dated February 1, 2017.
Summary
Jeremy Rubin writes to Jeffrey Epstein from Japan in February 2017, discussing Trump administration appointees potentially favorable to Bitcoin, including Balaji Sreeinvasan and Peter Thiel. Rubin describes his recent presentation at Stanford's Blockchain and Cryptocurrency conference on inverse-input contracts for charitable giving. He also details his current work teaching Bitcoin to 100 Japanese engineers alongside collaborator DG, noting cultural hesitations toward cryptocurrency adoption despite Japan's digital payment infrastructure, and his efforts to recruit undervalued female engineers to the program.
From: Jeremy RubinSent: 2/1/2017 5:18:08 AMTo: jeffrey E. [jeeyacation@gmail.com]Subject: Greetings from JapanImportance: HighHey Jeffrey,Thought I'd check in and see what's up on your end.- I've been watching closely Trump's appointees and there, he might be putting Balaji (a big bitcoiner)as FDA head, and Allison seems to be somewhat in favor of something like Bitcoin. And of course,Thiel has said that Bitcoin is what Paypal should have been... Curious to hear where your head is aton this matter.- Last week, I presented my research at Stanford's BPASE, it was well received. The most interestingthing I came up with for that is an inverse-input contract; i.e., funds that are "locked" to be spent onlyin the case where there are other funds that are not used in a specific way. An example of somethingthat could be built with this: a matching donation contract, where you agree to donate your money tocharity if someone else donates to charity, and you would not be able to release your funds from thatagreement until they use their funds not for charity.- I'm in Japan this week, teaching a class to 100 Japanese Engineers to get the up to speed onbitcoin (with DG). It's very interesting to see the trepidation first hand that they have with respect tothe technology, despite their debit-based society being more geared for it in any case (DG felt thateven putting Bitcoin in the course name would scare away students). One of my friends (a hedgefund manager) told me that female japanese engineers are very good, and drastically under-valued. Imade sure to get a few invited to the class, we'll see if he's right. On the whole, it will be interesting tosee the caliber of engineer Japan has to offer on this front.Best,Jeremy@JeremyRubinHOUSE OVERSIGHT 029087