Jeremy Kauffman | |
|---|---|
 Kauffman in 2022 | |
| Born | (1984-09-19)September 19, 1984 (age 41) |
| Education | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (BS,BS) |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Known for | |
| Political party | Libertarian |
| Other political affiliations | Mises Caucus |
| Children | 4[1] |
| Website | jeremy4nh.com |
Jeremy Kauffman (born September 19, 1984) is an American entrepreneur andpolitical activist known for founding and leading theblockchain-basedfilesharing projectLBRY.[2][3] Kauffman is also known as a vocal supporter and activist within theFree State Project (FSP) and a former board member. The FSP is a movement designed to getlibertarians to move to the state ofNew Hampshire. Kauffman was the Libertarian nominee in the2022 United States Senate election in New Hampshire, losing to DemocratMaggie Hassan.[4]
Kauffman was born on September 19, 1984.[1] He earned two Bachelor of Science degrees in physics and computer science atRensselaer Polytechnic Institute.[1][5]
Jeremy Kauffman was CEO of TopScore[6] prior to formulating the idea for a version ofYouTube 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 theSEC[8] regarding the issuance of acryptocurrency 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 thatGary Gensler would be the head of the SEC, Kauffman was hopeful that anM.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.[citation needed]
In 2018, Kauffman joined the board of directors of the non-profit, theFree State Project.[18][19] 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.[20] Kauffman is also a member of theLibertarian Party'sMises Caucus.[21]
In April 2021, Kauffman was given access toLibertarian Party of New Hampshire (LPNH)'s officialTwitter account soon after the state party was taken over by the Mises Caucus.[19] Kauffman later made tweets on the LPNH account that received controversy,[22] such as by calling for child labor to be legalized, for theCivil Rights Act to be repealed, and for theGuantanamo Bay detention camp to be reopened "so thatAnthony Fauci and every governor thatlocked their state down can be sent there, never again to be allowed inside of the United States".[23] The pro-child labor tweet specifically received pushback from 2012 and 2016 Libertarian presidential nomineeGary Johnson, saying "This isn't what libertarianism means to millions of Americans".[19] The tweets later partly resulted in the resignation of the national Libertarian Party leaderJoe-Bishop Henchman.[19][24] Kauffman defended his actions by saying the tweets were good for libertarians, and accused national party leadership of being "woke neoliberal globalists".[19]
AtPorcupine 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 PartyAngela 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.[20]
In 2022, Kauffman ran for theUnited States Senate as aLibertarian 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",[25] "making sure the lockdowns and restrictions can't happen again" and committing "to end the drug war".[26] In aNew 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 offederalism.[27] While some polls initially indicated that Kauffman's run would have avote splitting effect betweenMaggie Hassan andDon Bolduc,[28] Hassan beat Bolduc by about 9 points, and Kauffman received about 2% of the total vote.[29]
In late September 2023, Kauffman was expelled from the Free State ProjectBoard during a voting session. The vote came weeks after continued agitation by Kauffman against other Free State members such asCarla Gericke as well as the organizations founderJason Sorens. The board cited Kauffman’s internet trolling and perceived promotion of racism on social media as reasons for his expulsion.[30]
In 2024, Kauffman nominated Toad (Joshua Anderson) as a satirical presidential candidate at the2024 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."[31]
In September 2024, the LPNH posted on X that "Anyone who murdersKamala Harris would be an American hero." In a statement to theBoston Globe, Kauffman told the paper that the LPNH "believes that the journalists at theBoston Globe are as evil as rapists or murderers. ... A proper society would excludeGlobe journalists from residing within it entirely".[32]
Kauffman has criticized the end ofapartheid in South Africa, calling themovement 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."[30][33][34]
Kauffman has three children with his wife Rachel.[1]
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Brian Chabot | Libertarian nominee forU.S. Senator from New Hampshire (Class 3) 2022 | Most recent |
