[nullc]

I don't believe any active Bitcoin developers work for MIT anymore. Bitcoin development is almost entirely done in the public (obviously security issues are handled in private), not really much place for any kind of 'shadow'.

I don't think meetups/conventions have much role in Bitcoin development either. I stopped going to them entirely because every event is reliably taken over by ICO/altcoin pumpers-- groups who stand to gain a lot by expanding their audience and are willing to pay to send representatives to events.