Crypto Password-Cracking Firm Unciphered in Turmoil Over Co-Founder’s Controversial Past
Unciphered, a cryptocurrency password-cracking company hailed for its innovative approach, is facing internal upheaval following revelations that one of its secret co-founders, Morgan Marquis-Boire, has been publicly accused of repeated sexual assaults.
The previously undisclosed role of Marquis-Boire has alarmed employees and contractors with backgrounds in U.S. intelligence agencies, including the CIA, NSA, and FBI, who had introduced the firm to government officials as a potential asset, according to a report by the Washington Post.
His ties to both the intelligence community and anti-surveillance groups have made him a controversial figure.
A Hidden Co-Founder with a Controversial Past
Marquis-Boire, a New Zealand native and former Google security engineer, gained prominence for analyzing high-end spyware. He also worked with Citizen Lab and the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) on major privacy and security projects. However, in 2017, he withdrew from public life after multiple women accused him of sexual assault. The allegations led to several organizations severing ties with him, including Citizen Lab, which condemned “a toxic culture of sexual discrimination, harassment, and violence” in the tech industry, the report said. Despite these accusations, Marquis-Boire managed to co-found Unciphered in secret, working under the alias “Frank Davidson.” His involvement was unknown to many in the company until employees discovered his identity in late 2023. Founded four years ago, Unciphered specialized in recovering lost cryptocurrency funds by cracking digital wallets.
The company attracted major cybersecurity figures, including former NSA general counsel Stewart Baker and security expert Chris Wysopal. It gained media recognition, with coverage from Wired, Fortune, and The Washington Post, and was even the subject of a Netflix documentary in progress. Unciphered’s business model relied on elite hackers and powerful computing technology to recover locked Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, taking a share of the recovered funds. However, the revelation of Marquis-Boire’s hidden role created turmoil within the company, particularly among employees concerned about his past.
Internal Backlash and Leadership Shake-Up
As employees pieced together the truth, concerns escalated over the impact of Marquis-Boire’s involvement on their professional reputations. Jon Ellch, a former FBI cybersecurity expert, and others demanded that the company cut ties with him. Under mounting pressure, CEO Eric Michaud resigned, and Marquis-Boire left the company. However, his name resurfaced in early 2024 when a package addressed to him arrived at Unciphered’s San Francisco office, reigniting concerns about his lingering influence. Following media inquiries, Unciphered’s remaining leadership took swift action. The company confirmed that Marquis-Boire’s shares had been bought out in February 2024, and his involvement had been fully severed. Michaud also removed his LinkedIn profile and ceased public communication. In response to the controversy, Unciphered removed all employee names from its website, citing security concerns. A company statement emphasized that “no one publicly associated with Unciphered has access to company or client funds,” per the report.