The wild, true story of cyber-era commerce, crime, cold-hard cash, and one of the greatest heists in history.

Even in hell, Bitcoin talks. This modern take on an old Japanese saying still holds true. Cryptocurrency was supposed to do for money what the internet did for information, but it didn’t work out that way. Its virtual existence unleashed real-world chaos — especially in the homeland of its mysterious creator, Satoshi Nakamoto. Tokyo was the centre of the world’s largest bitcoin exchange, Mt. Gox, until that company collapsed with nearly half a billion dollars’ worth of bitcoin gone missing. It might be the greatest heist in history. If it was a heist.

So what really happened? Here’s the true story of the humble-to-hot commodity, from the former geek website that launched the boom to an inside world of absent-minded CEOs, hucksters, hackers, cybercrooks, drug dealers, corrupt federal agents, evangelical libertarians, and clueless techies. You’ll discover Bitcoin’s connection to the infamous Silk Road, learn why hell has nothing on Japan’s criminal justice system, and get the lowdown on the high cost of betting with the Devil’s dollars. All of this for less than the price of a single bitcoin.

‘The Devil Takes Bitcoin is a wild ride through the glitchy, glorious mess that is crypto history. Jake Adelstein connects the dots like a conspiracy theorist with actual receipts. Read it. Laugh. Cringe. Maybe even HODL (Hold on for dear life).’

‘It is, of course, brilliant. A twisting, complex, international true-crime thriller involving Bitcoin, The Silk Road, and the cutting edge of Cryptocurrency malfeasance.’

‘The true story of cyber-era commerce, crime, cold-hard cash, and one of the greatest heists in history.’

‘A whirlwind account of crypto’s rise and rot. Reading Adelstein’s tale is like listening to the best storyteller at the pub, full of outrageous anecdotes, pithy takedowns, and a clear-eyed account of how crypto’s true lifeblood was always crime … The Devil Takes Bitcoin is a weirdly successful vibe check from what may be the internet’s last Wild West: funny, chaotic, horrifying, and deeply revealing of how belief and greed blur until they’re indistinguishable … If you want to be entertained, informed, and a little appalled, pull up a bar stool.’

‘Drawing from his expertise in Japan’s underworld, Adelstein reveals how Bitcoin’s promise of freedom quickly entangled with crime … Adelstein’s book shines when exploring how this innovation provided the necessary financial infrastructure for the dark web, particularly through the Silk Road marketplace … At 224 pages, it’s a quick, eye-opening read for crypto novices or crime buffs alike.’

Praise for Tokyo Noir:

‘Journalist Adelstein follows up The Last Yakuza with another illuminating blend of memoir and reportage … As always, the author’s ability to boil down Japan’s complex sociopolitical dynamics in sharp, often-humorous prose impresses … For true crime fans, this is a treat.’

Praise for Tokyo Noir:

‘Mafioso, dirty dealings, true crime — it’s all inherently interesting. And Tokyo Noir is exactly the sort of sequel you’d want to the now-seminal Tokyo Vice.’

Praise for Tokyo Noir:

‘It might be packaged as a hard-boiled, gonzo tour through Japan’s underworld, but this intricate tale keeps unfolding in unexpected ways … It’s tempting to call this story Chandleresque, but there’s a depth of feeling and undercurrent of spiritual questing that goes beyond Chandler’s remit.’

Praise for The Last Yakuza:

‘Journalist Adelstein parlays decades of reporting on Japanese organised crime into a propulsive history of the yakuza. Drawing on interviews with both his yakuza and Japanese law enforcement contacts, he examines how yakuza groups obtained power … He’s especially good at tracing the yakuza’s political influence in Japan, explaining how they bribed and blackmailed legislators into opposing bills that would have curbed their influence. Painstakingly reported and paced like a thriller, this is a must read for anyone interested in organised crime.’

Jake Adelstein has been an investigative journalist in Japan since 1993, writing in Japanese and English. He authored Tokyo Vice (now an HBO series), The Last Yakuza (2023), and Tokyo Noir (2024). He co-hosted the award-winning podcast The Evaporated: Gone with the Gods. A recognised expert on Japan’s organised crime, he’s reported for The Daily Beast, Los Angeles Times, Tempura, and VICE. He is also a low-ranking Zen Buddhist priest, trying hard to be kinder and occasionally exorcising hungry ghosts. Adelstein frequently appears as a commentator on Japanese crime and culture, working as a writer and consultant.