The Unlikely Rise of "Big Balls": A Teenage Software Engineer with Government Connections

The recent appointment of a 19-year-old software engineer, Edward Coristine, as a "senior advisor" to the U.S. State Department has left many questioning the sanity of the current political climate. Coristine, also known as "Big Balls," briefly worked at Elon Musk’s brain startup Neuralink before being recruited to the billionaire’s government-deconstructionist effort DOGE.

Who is "Big Balls"?

In reality, "Big Balls" is Edward Coristine, a high-achieving tech wunderkind who recently graduated from high school. The online username is merely a nod to his impressive testicular endowments. According to The Washington Post, Coristine was recently assigned to the State Department’s Bureau of Diplomatic Technology, leaving senior officials at the agency scratching their heads.

A Baffling Assignment

It is unclear what Coristine, who has limited work experience, will be doing at the State Department, but his appointment has raised eyebrows. The Post notes that Coristine is also listed as working for USAID, the international aid agency that Musk has effectively shut down in the past week. This has left many wondering what Coristine’s role is and why he has been given access to sensitive government information.

A Troubled Past

Coristine’s hiring has not been without controversy. Wired initially reported that Coristine had previously worked for Path Network, a cybersecurity firm that hires reformed cybercriminals. Bloomberg subsequently reported that Coristine was fired from the firm after leaking company secrets to competitors. Coristine himself claimed that he did nothing contractually wrong during his tenure.

Further Connections to the Dark Web

Cybersecurity blogger Brian Krebs made the claim that Coristine was also a former member of The Com, a loose online affiliation of Telegram and Discord users known for their involvement in various forms of illicit activity. Krebs does not claim that Coristine was involved in any actual crimes, merely that he was a member of the group.

A Government in Peril

Coristine’s appointment has raised concerns about the level of access the teenager has been given to the federal government’s data and internal systems. His colleagues on the DOGE team, including 23-year-old former SpaceX intern Luke Farritor, have also been given positions at the State Department. As Gizmodo reports, Coristine and Farritor are both listed as working for the Bureau of Diplomatic Technology.

The State Department Responds

Gizmodo reached out to the State Department for more information on Coristine’s role and what he will be doing, but has yet to receive a response. This story will be updated as more information becomes available.