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Jeremy Kauffman

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Jeremy Kauffman
Kauffman in 2022
Born (1984-09-19) September 19, 1984 (age 40)
EducationRensselaer Polytechnic Institute (BS)
OccupationBusinessman
Known for
Political partyLibertarian
Other political
affiliations		Mises Caucus
Children4[1]
Websitejeremy4nh.com

Jeremy Kauffman (born September 19, 1984) is an American entrepreneur and political activist known for founding and leading the blockchain-based filesharing project LBRY.[2][3] Kauffman is also known as a vocal supporter and activist within the Free State Project (FSP) and a former board member. The FSP is a movement designed to get libertarians to move to the state of New Hampshire. Kauffman was the Libertarian nominee in the 2022 United States Senate election in New Hampshire, losing to Democrat Maggie Hassan.[4]

Early life

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Kauffman was born on September 19, 1984.[1] He earned two Bachelor of Science degrees in physics and computer science at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.[1][5]

Business career

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Jeremy Kauffman was CEO of TopScore[6] prior to formulating the idea for a version of YouTube that would be decentralized in its construction and operation. The result of this idea for a media and video viewing platform that claimed to be fully decentralized was called LBRY (pronounced as "library"). LBRY was launched in 2015. When asked about the purpose of LBRY, Kauffman stated that while the LBRY blockchain could be used in a 'Wild West' kind of way, the main goal of the platform was to provide people with choices for content.[7]

Following an investigation by the SEC[8] regarding the issuance of a cryptocurrency token called "LBRY credit" (LBC).,[9][10][11] a federal judge in November 2022 ruled that LBC is legally a security that requires regulation by the SEC.[12] Kauffman has not yet commented on whether he intends to appeal the decision or to settle with the SEC[13] but has said the decision "threatens the entire U.S. cryptocurrency industry" by classifying "almost every cryptocurrency" as a security.[14] Upon hearing that Gary Gensler would be the head of the SEC, Kauffman was hopeful that an M.I.T. professor who specialized in cryptocurrency would be fair to the new industry and to not be "a complete sociopath."[15]

Odysee, an open-source video-sharing website that uses the LBRY network, was founded by members of the LBRY team in 2020.[16]

In October 2023, LBRY Inc. declared bankruptcy due to significant financial difficulties and mounting legal pressures following the SEC's classification of LBRY Credits (LBC) as a security.[17] The bankruptcy led to the forced sale of Odysee, which was acquired by Forward Research, a firm specializing in decentralized technology. The sale marked the end of LBRY’s direct involvement with Odysee, though the platform continues to operate under new ownership.[18]

Political activity

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Kauffman senatorial campaign sign

In 2018, Kauffman joined the board of directors of the non-profit, the Free State Project.[19][20] Kauffman believes that the Free State Project is the most effective way for libertarians to achieve "liberty in our lifetimes" and has debated this assertion in a public forum.[21] Kauffman is also a member of the Libertarian Party's Mises Caucus.[22]

In April 2021, Kauffman was given access to Libertarian Party of New Hampshire (LPNH)'s official Twitter account soon after the state party was taken over by the Mises Caucus.[20] Kauffman later made tweets on the LPNH account that received controversy,[23] such as calling for child labor to be legalized, saying "All Republicans do about wokeness is whine. Libertarians have solutions; repeal the Civil Rights Act [of 1964]", and re-opening the Guantanamo Bay detention camp "so that Anthony Fauci and every governor that locked their state down can be sent there, never again to be allowed inside of the United States".[24] The pro-child labor tweet specifically received pushback from 2012 and 2016 Libertarian presidential nominee Gary Johnson, saying "This isn't what libertarianism means to millions of Americans".[20] The tweets later partly resulted in the resignation of the national Libertarian Party leader Joe-Bishop Henchman.[20][25] Kauffman defended his actions by saying the tweets were good for libertarians, and accused national party leadership of being "woke neoliberal globalists".[20]

At Porcupine Freedom Festival 2021, an annual libertarian festival held in New Hampshire, Executive Director of the Free State Project, Jeremy Kauffman and chair of the Libertarian Party Angela McArdle debated which strategy is more effective. Kauffman argued that, "There are more people in this room that are elected members to the NH House of Representatives and former members of the Libertarian Party than there are Libertarian Party members nationwide." McArdle argued that, while she wants to see the Free State Project succeed, the Free State Project could not have existed without the political infrastructure provided by the Libertarian Party developed over the course of five decades.[21]

In 2022, Kauffman ran for the United States Senate as a Libertarian in New Hampshire. In response to a question as to why he was running for office, he replied, "I'm the only one running that will actually make the government smaller".[1] Among his key campaign issues are "abolishing the Federal Reserve, the Internal Revenue Service and child-labor laws",[26] "making sure the lockdowns and restrictions can't happen again" and committing "to end the drug war".[27] In a New Hampshire Public Radio interview, Kauffman stated that he wanted "less democracy," elaborating that he does not want people in California and New York voting on his life in New Hampshire and that it is permissible to "let states disagree" under the U.S. system of federalism.[28] While some polls initially indicated that Kauffman's run would have a vote splitting effect between Maggie Hassan and Don Bolduc,[29] Hassan beat Bolduc by about 9 points, and Kauffman received about 2% of the total vote.[30]

In late September 2023, Kauffman was expelled from the Free State Project Board during a voting session. The vote came weeks after continued agitation by Kauffman against other Free State members such as Carla Gericke as well as the organizations founder Jason Sorens. The board cited Kauffman’s internet trolling and perceived promotion of racism on social media as reasons for his expulsion.[31]

In 2024, Kauffman nominated Toad (Joshua Anderson) as a satirical presidential candidate at the 2024 Libertarian Convention. After holding up a sign "MAGA = Socialist" at an appearance of Donald Trump, Kauffman later endorsed Trump, calling the Libertarian nominee, Chase Oliver, a "gay race communist."[32]

In September 2024, the LPNH posted on X that "Anyone who murders Kamala Harris would be an American hero." In a statement to the Boston Globe, Kauffman told the paper that the LPNH "believes that the journalists at the Boston Globe are as evil as rapists or murderers. ... A proper society would exclude Globe journalists from residing within it entirely".[33]

Kauffman has criticized the end of apartheid in South Africa, calling the movement to end it "race-based bitter leftism" that led to the destruction of the country. He has said that "One can imagine better systems than apartheid, but South Africa is now much worse having removed it."[31][34][35]

Personal life

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Kauffman has four children with his wife Rachel.[1]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Sexton, Adam (August 9, 2022). "Jeremy Kauffman, L, 2022 candidate for U.S. Senate in New Hampshire". WMUR. Archived from the original on October 17, 2022. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  2. ^ Popper, Nathaniel (January 26, 2021). "They Found a Way to Limit Big Tech's Power: Using the Design of Bitcoin". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on May 2, 2021. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
  3. ^ Wilson, Jason (July 16, 2023). "Extremist-friendly tech company closes after legal fine". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  4. ^ "Kauffman, Jeremy - Candidate overview". Federal Election Commission. Archived from the original on October 18, 2022. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  5. ^ "Jeremy Kauffman". LBRY. Archived from the original on July 30, 2022. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  6. ^ Goldsmith, Rachel (September 14, 2018). "Jeremy Kauffman Joins the Board". Free State Project. Archived from the original on March 30, 2023. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  7. ^ Bookman, Todd (April 19, 2021). "From Cooking Videos to QAnon, N.H.-Based Video Platform Attracts Users Banned Elsewhere New Hampshire Public Radio". New Hampshire Public Radio. Archived from the original on April 28, 2022. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  8. ^ Gatto, James G.; Khoury, Gabriel; Almasi, Pouneh (May 31, 2022). "Securities and Exchange Commission V. LBRY; Is Your Crypto Project Illegal?". The National Law Review. Archived from the original on June 1, 2022. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  9. ^ Ryan, Aidan (August 26, 2022). "The SEC v. LBRY: How a New Hampshire Court Battle Could Rewrite the Rules of Crypto". The Information. Archived from the original on June 2, 2023. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  10. ^ Godoy, Judy (March 17, 2022). "Crypto company jokes about using garlic to ward off SEC". Reuters. Archived from the original on December 1, 2022. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  11. ^ Marshall, Andrew R.C.; Tanfani, Joseph (August 22, 2022). "SkewTube: New video-sharing sites thrives on misinformation and hate". Reuters. Archived from the original on October 17, 2022. Retrieved October 17, 2022.
  12. ^ Doherty, Brian (November 7, 2022). "Cryptotoken LBC is Legally a Security, Federal Judge Declares, and Requires Regulation by the SEC". Reason. Archived from the original on May 3, 2023. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  13. ^ DeWitt, Ethan (November 20, 2022). "From citrus to crypto: 1940s precedent puts future of N.H. file-sharing firm in doubt". New Hampshire Public Radio. Archived from the original on December 1, 2022. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  14. ^ Godoy, Jody (November 7, 2022). "U.S. securities regulators win case against crypto company LBRY". Reuters. Archived from the original on May 23, 2023. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  15. ^ Yaffe-Bellany, David (November 21, 2022). "Inside a Crypto Nemesis' Campaign to Rein In the Industry". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 7, 2023. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  16. ^ Ha, Anthony (December 7, 2020). "Odysee aims to build a more freewheeling, independent video platform". TechCrunch. Archived from the original on June 7, 2022. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  17. ^ Dalal, Khyathi (October 20, 2023). "LBRY Bids Farewell Amid Millions Of Dollars Of Debt: 'Not A Happy Ending, But A Happy Journey'". NASDAQ.com. Archived from the original on September 17, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  18. ^ Watson, RT (June 6, 2024). "Decentralized YouTube alternative Odysee acquired by Forward Research despite content concerns". The Block. Archived from the original on June 6, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  19. ^ Bookman, Todd (March 30, 2022). "Feds Again Target N.H. Cryptocurrency Firm With Libertarian Ties". New Hampshire Public Radio. Archived from the original on March 23, 2023. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  20. ^ a b c d e Doherty, Brian (June 23, 2021). "Inside the Battle Over the Soul of the Libertarian Party". Reason. Archived from the original on January 29, 2023. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  21. ^ a b Epstein, Gene (July 30, 2021). Is the Free State Project a Better Idea than the Libertarian Party? (Podcast).
  22. ^ Heer, Jeet (June 6, 2022). "The Libertarian Party Goes Alt-Right". The Nation. ISSN 0027-8378. Archived from the original on June 6, 2022. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  23. ^ Timmins, Annmarie (July 19, 2021). "Liberty Alliance faces backlash over choice of keynote speaker". New Hampshire Bulletin. Archived from the original on October 20, 2022. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  24. ^ Doherty, Brian (June 23, 2021). "Inside the Battle Over the Soul of the Libertarian Party". Reason.com. Archived from the original on September 21, 2022. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  25. ^ Chibbaro, Jr., Lou (August 18, 2021). "Gay D.C. Libertarian Party leader resigns as nat'l chair". Washington Blade. Archived from the original on September 21, 2022. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  26. ^ Marshall, Andrew; Tanfani, Joseph (August 22, 2022). "New breed of video sites thrive on misinformation and hate; U.S. Senate candidate in NH linked to one". New Hampshire Union Leader. Archived from the original on October 25, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  27. ^ Decker, Jon (May 24, 2022). "Midterm 2022: Meet the senate racers". The Laconia Daily Sun. Archived from the original on September 22, 2022. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  28. ^ Kauffman, Jeremy (October 31, 2022). "Meet the candidates for U.S. Senate in New Hampshire: Jeremy Kauffman". New Hampshire Public Radio (Interview). Interviewed by Rick Ganley. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  29. ^ Steinhauser, Paul (November 6, 2022). "New Hampshire battleground poll shows key Senate showdown is down to the margin of error". Fox News. Archived from the original on February 14, 2023. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  30. ^ "New Hampshire U.S. Senate Election Results". The New York Times. November 8, 2022. Archived from the original on March 25, 2023. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  31. ^ a b "Kauffman Ousted in Free State Shakeup". October 4, 2023.
  32. ^ @jeremykauffman (May 27, 2024). "Yesterday, I held up this sign calling Donald Trump supporters socialists. Tonight, the Libertarian Party nominated a gay race communist for president. With those choices, I'm standing with Donald Trump" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  33. ^ Gross, Samantha J.; Porter, Stephen (November 15, 2024). "N.H. Libertarian Party shares, deletes post on X endorsing the assassination of VP Harris". The Boston Globe. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  34. ^ https://twitter.com/jeremykauffman/status/1835451335422173361
  35. ^ https://twitter.com/jeremykauffman/status/1835425663001723383


Party political offices
Preceded by
Brian Chabot
 Libertarian nominee for U.S. Senator from New Hampshire
(Class 3)
2022 		Most recent
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