MIT Media Lab’s Digital Currency Initiative funded by undisclosed gift funds, attracting Bitcoin core developers

MIT Media Lab’s Digital Currency Initiative funded by undisclosed gift funds, attracting Bitcoin core developers The passage reveals that gift funds were used to quickly secure the Bitcoin core developers for MIT’s Digital Currency Initiative, suggesting a possible financial influence on a high‑profile research lab. While it names key developers and the Media Lab, it lacks specifics on the donor, amount, or any illicit intent, limiting its immediate investigative value but offering a concrete lead to trace the source of the gift and any conditions attached. Key insights: Gift funds were used to underwrite the Digital Currency Initiative, enabling rapid recruitment of Bitcoin core developers.; Three core developers (Gavin Andresen, Wladimir van der Laan, Cory Fields) moved from the Bitcoin Foundation to MIT Media Lab.; The Bitcoin Foundation had recently declared bankruptcy, creating a vacuum for developer control.