As 2025 draws to a close, Mark Karpelès, the former CEO of Mt. Gox, has embraced a more subdued lifestyle in Japan. He is currently focused on developing a VPN and an AI automation platform. In his role as Chief Protocol Officer at vp.net—a VPN that leverages Intel’s SGX technology allowing users to verify the code running on servers—he collaborates with notable figures like Roger Ver and Andrew Lee, founder of Private Internet Access. “It’s essentially the only trustworthy VPN out there; you don’t just have to take our word for it—you can verify it yourself,” he explains. Meanwhile, at shells.com, his personal cloud computing venture, he is quietly working on an unreleased AI agent system designed to give artificial intelligence complete control over virtual machines: managing software installations, handling emails, and even processing purchases through planned credit card integration. “What I’m doing with shells is granting AI full access to operate independently within a computer,” which he considers an innovative concept—AI agents taken to new heights.
The difference between his current life and his past could not be more pronounced. Fifteen years prior, Karpelès found himself reluctantly reigning over Bitcoin’s trading landscape while overseeing Mt. Gox during its peak as the dominant exchange for global bitcoin transactions.
His journey into this world began innocently in 2010 when he was running a web hosting company named Tibanne under the brand Kalyhost. A French client based in Peru reached out about using Bitcoin for payments due to frustrations with international transaction barriers: “He introduced me to Bitcoin and asked if he could use it for my services… I was likely one of the first businesses accepting Bitcoin payments back then.”
Roger Ver became a regular visitor at Karpelès’ office during this time; unbeknownst to him, some of his servers hosted domains linked with Silk Road—specifically silkroadmarket.org—which had been purchased anonymously using bitcoin. This connection would later lead authorities down investigative paths: U.S officials briefly suspected Karpelès might be Dread Pirate Roberts himself. “That was actually one of their main reasons for investigating me… They thought I might be Dread Pirate Roberts.” This association complicated public perception surrounding him and even surfaced during Ross Ulbricht’s trial when Ulbricht’s defense team attempted linking him with Silk Road.
Karpelès took ownership of Mt. Gox from Jed McCaleb in 2011 after McCaleb went on to establish Ripple and Stellar networks; however, complications arose immediately following the acquisition: “Between signing off on everything until gaining server access—80 thousand bitcoins were stolen… Jed insisted we keep quiet about it,” claimed Karpelès in an interview with Bitcoin Magazine regarding McCaleb’s lack of criminal accountability despite facing civil lawsuits related directly or indirectly connectedness surrounding Mt.Gox case . Ultimately ,Karpeles felt burdened by inheriting poorly coded infrastructure riddled technical difficulties.
Mt.Gox rapidly gained traction becoming essential gateway millions entering cryptocurrency realm while enforcing strict policies against illicit activities such as drug purchases via Silk Road .“If someone intends buy drugs illegally using bitcoin they shouldn’t do so” stated Karpleles speaking candidly about responsible usage.
The downfall came swiftly when hacks attributed later Alexander Vinnik along BTC-e exchange resulted draining over six hundred fifty thousand bitcoins from platform leaving many investors empty handed ;Vinnik pleaded guilty but exchanged prisoner swap returned Russia without trial leaving evidence sealed behind closed doors .“It doesn’t feel like justice has been served” remarked Karpleles reflecting upon odd political value associated Vinnick Russians.The stolen bitcoins remain unaccounted till date.
Consequences were immediate leading arrest August twenty fifteen where endured eleven plus months Japanese custody notorious rigidity psychological pressure system encountered colorful cellmates including Yakuza members drug dealers fraudsters passing time teaching English earning nickname ‘Mr.Bitcoin’ among inmates after spotting headlines obscured newspapers given them guards.A Yakuza even attempted recruit slipping phone number post-release contact :“…Of course I’m not going call that” laughed Karpleles recalling absurdity situation.
Psychological tactics employed brutal Japanese police involved repeated rearrests creating illusion imminent release only face new warrant door after twenty-three days.“They really make you think that you’re free but no—not really…it takes toll mental health”.
Transferred Tokyo Detention Center conditions worsened spending six months solitary confinement shared floor death row inmates recalling painful experience saying “it still quite painful spend more