| Founded | 1996 |
|---|---|
| Closed | 2009 |
| Country | USA |
| Sector | Fintech |
| Collapse type | Regulatory Kill |
| Founder | Douglas Jackson |
e-Gold
"The digital gold currency that hit 5 million accounts and $2B in annual transactions — 13 years before Bitcoin — shut down after US DoJ indicted its founders for money laundering"
Forced closure by regulatory action
Key Events Timeline
e-Gold was founded in 1996 by oncologist Douglas Jackson as a digital currency backed by physical gold stored in vaults — one of the first practical implementations of digital money.
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