Kevin Mirshahi, a prominent figure in Montreal’s cryptocurrency scene, was found dead on October 30 in Île-de-la-Visitation park, months after he was reportedly abducted from a condo building in June. Local reports reveal a passerby discovered his decomposing body, later identified through autopsy, according to Montreal police. Mirshahi, just 25, had disappeared on June 21, along with three others who managed to escape. His case highlights the alarming rise in targeted kidnappings and violence against cryptocurrency influencers and executives.
Mirshahi, previously well-known for operating a crypto investment firm called "Crypto Paradise Island," had a controversial past. He was barred from operating as an investment adviser or broker by Quebec’s financial regulatory body, the Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF), in 2021. The ban was further extended in July 2023, just weeks after his abduction, prohibiting him from promoting related content online. Speculation around his death grew as some individuals alleged he had scammed them, though it remains unclear if his former clients were involved in his abduction. Police arrested a 32-year-old woman, Joanie Lepage, in August, charging her with first-degree murder in connection with Mirshahi’s death. The investigation, however, continues.
This tragic incident follows a disturbing trend in the crypto industry, where high-stakes wealth has led to ransom cases and fatal kidnappings. Recently, WonderFi CEO Dean Skurka was forced to pay a $1 million ransom in a separate abduction, and in July, a Bitcoiner was killed in Kyiv, Ukraine, with $170,000 worth of Bitcoin stolen. Just weeks later, six Malaysians were arrested for the alleged kidnapping of a Chinese national, demanding $1 million in Tether. The cases highlight the dark risks facing prominent figures in the digital asset world.
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