It's been a little over a month now since Bill Tai and the other organizers of the Blockchain Summit announced the moderators and participants lists for their inaugural event on Richard Branson's private Caribbean isle. The four-day event promised to assemble the world's "greatest minds in digital innovation" to "define the future."

The Bilderbergian aspirations of the Summit can easily be dismissed as mere breathless PR. The idea of hosting an event on a billionaire's private island to celebrate a revolutionary peer-to-peer financial technology which would liberate users from dependence on the same banks and protocols that billionaires are fond of using tiny Caribbean islands to circumvent can be written off as telling, or ominous, or ridiculous.

Almost immediately after the guest list was published, though, a potent criticism emerged which has proved difficult to dispatch: All the heralded "greatest minds in digital innovation" belonged to men.

Early this month I documented the organizers' attempts to parry this polemic. In the time since, seven women have been added to the list of the Summit participants, and the @blockchainsummit Twitter feed has emerged as a new champion, via retweets, of women in the Bitcoin space. Problem solved. Misogyny shrugged.

Except that, according to emails obtained by Pando sent to prominent female blockchainers (who wish to remain anonymous) on behalf of Summit organizers, at least some of the invitations extended to women in the midst of the backlash were less than tempting offers. Namely, they were invitations to attend only the Summit Final Dinner, scheduled for this Wednesday, at the price of $2,000 per place setting, in addition to travel expenses and costly off-island accommodations (which the women would have to arrange themselves.)

From: Valerie Egerton Date: Sunday, May 10, 2015 at 10:52 AM To: [REDACTED] Subject: REMINDER- registration ends tonight for The Blockchain Summit

Hello [REDACTED]

I did not want you to miss out on the opportunity to come to the Blockchain Summit’s Final Dinner. Registration ends tonight.I have included the information below for your convenience. It will be a most memorable day- not to be missed. Since this is the inaugural summit, the dinner is also a great way to get a taste of what the next will be like.

BitFury and MaiTai would like to extend you a special invitation to join us at the Block Chain Summit Final Dinner on Necker Island on May 27th, 2015.

We are gathering top thinkers in the world of Blockchain, Digital Currency and Bitcoin to help DEFINE THE FUTURE.

Come visit Sir Richard Branson's private island as we conclude a set of discussions highlighting critical issues and solutions that will help lay out a framework for a world where humankind is fully benefiting from the amazing technology behind the Blockchain.

In order to secure your spot please register ASAP as we have very limited capacity at our closing dinner. Registration will be closing on Sunday, so do not hesitate in booking your exclusive ticket! Please see: http://bitly.com/BCSDinner to register. (Password: necker)

This ticket includes:

· A 'meet and greet' lunch with other attendees (off island) · Boat transfer to Necker Island · Welcome Cocktails and an opportunity to explore Necker Island · Sunset Discussions · Dinner and Beach Party Please send any questions to [REDACTED]@maitaiglobal.org We hope to welcome you in paradise soon,

Team MaiTai and Bitfury

More Details…

GETTING THERE The best airports to fly to are Tortola, Beef Island (EIS) or Virgin Gorda (VIJ). There are many connections to Tortola through San Juan, Puerto Rico each day! ACCOMMODATION

Here are a few suggestions of hotels on neighboring islands! You can also stay on a catamaran anchored right off Necker, there are lots of charter companies like · www.sunsail.com · SabaRock www.sabarock.com · The Bitter End Yacht Club www.beyc.com · Leverick Bay www.leverickbay.com

Thank you,

Valerie Egerton

Office Manager BitFury USA, Inc The Summit kicked off this morning, and one must assume that the great minds have begun to craft "the framework for a world where humankind is fully benefiting from the amazing technology behind the Blockchain." Hopefully they'll be a bit more considerate of the 6-odd billion of us they hope to benefit than they have been to female members of their fellowship of "top thinkers."