Crypto Influencer’s Dead Body Discovered Following 3-Month Search in Montreal

Authorities have confirmed that the physique of Kevin Mirshahi, a cryptocurrency influencer kidnapped in June, has been present in Montreal. A passerby found Mirshahi’s stays in Île-de-la-Visitation Park, positioned within the Ahuntsic-Cartierville district, on October 30.

Mirshahi’s demise has added to Montreal’s rising murder rely, bringing the town to its thirty second case this yr.

Kevin Mirshahi’s Abduction and Homicide

As reported by The Gazette, Sûreté du Québec (SQ) announced on Tuesday that the stays, which have been decomposing, have been recognized by means of an post-mortem.

The 31-year-old was final seen on June twenty first after he was kidnapped together with three others from a condominium in Outdated Montreal. Police have been initially alerted to the incident following a 911 name reporting a battle within the space of de la Commune and St-Hubert streets. The three different captives managed to flee and have been positioned inside hours.

Mirshahi, nonetheless, remained unlocated, and his high-profile disappearance gained public curiosity attributable to his position within the cryptocurrency house and because the proprietor of Crypto Paradise Island, a personal funding agency he based.

The group turned entangled in a pump-and-dump scheme involving a cryptocurrency known as Marsan (MRS). It was launched by Antoine Marsan and Bastien Francoeur of Marsan Change on April 14, 2021, and was promoted by Mirshahi in change for cost in Marsan tokens. After reaching a peak worth, the coin’s value plummeted by over 92% simply 4 days later, leaving over 2,000 younger traders with huge losses.

It was then that the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) in Quebec initiated an investigation in opposition to Mirshahi and his firm. As a part of it, Mirshahi confronted a ban on performing as a dealer or funding adviser, on securities transactions, and on publishing associated content material.

The ban, prolonged on July 4, 2024, additionally required him to take away sure social media posts. Nevertheless, reports from Le Journal de Montréal counsel he ignored it and stored working a Telegram group known as “Amir” selling crypto investments.

The most recent improvement comes three months after Canadian authorities arrested a 32-year-old lady, Joanie Lepage, who’s believed to be concerned within the kidnappings and the demise of Mirshahi.

Rising Crypto Crime

The kidnapping and homicide of cryptocurrency influencer Mirshahi is a part of a disturbing pattern of focused violence in opposition to crypto executives and influencers. Lately, Haichao Zhu, co-founder of Rooch Community, was robbed at knifepoint in Bangkok simply earlier than Ethereum’s Devcon convention.

This follows a sample of comparable incidents at main crypto occasions, together with the Ethereum Group Convention (EthCC) in Brussels, the place a number of violent confrontations occurred. One such assault noticed Rishant Kumar of Kilt Protocol defend himself in opposition to an assailant.