The body of Kevin Mirshahi, a well-known Canadian crypto influencer, was found in a Montreal park on October 30, months after he was abducted in June.
A passerby found his decomposing body at Île-de-la-Visitation Park, and an autopsy report released on Wednesday confirmed his identity.
Mirshahi, who was abducted on June 21 alongside three others from a condo building in Montreal, was last seen in the company of friends before his disappearance.
While his companions managed to escape, Mirshahi was not so fortunate.
Just last week, another high-profile crypto figure, Dean Skurka, CEO of Canadian-based Wonderfi, was reportedly kidnapped and held for ransom, with the kidnappers demanding $1 million for his release.
The investigation into Mirshahi’s death is still ongoing, with local authorities continuing to gather evidence. So far, one arrest has been made: a 32-year-old woman named Joanie Lepage was charged with first-degree murder in connection with his death.
The circumstances surrounding her involvement remain unclear, and it is not yet known whether she had any ties to Mirshahi’s private crypto investment firm.
Mirshahi was a prominent figure in Montreal’s crypto community, though his reputation was controversial. Some critics labeled him a scammer, citing alleged fraudulent activities in the past. In June, one crypto user took to social media to accuse Mirshahi of scamming him out of $5,000, mocking the situation by claiming that “Kevin Mirshahi got kidnapped in Montreal 2 days ago! LMAOO Allah is great.”
Mirshahi had been known to Québec’s investment regulator, which in 2021 imposed a ban on him and two others from acting as brokers or investment advisers.
Additionally, he was barred from posting crypto-related content on social media due to regulatory concerns. Despite his notoriety, there has been no official statement from his family following his death.
The transparent nature of blockchain technology means that anyone can see the holdings of a crypto wallet, making top crypto investors and influencers prime targets for ransom kidnappings.
In August, six Malaysian nationals were charged with kidnapping a Chinese national and demanding a ransom in the form of $1 million worth of Tether, a popular stablecoin. As the crypto space continues to grow, experts warn that the risks for those with significant holdings are also escalating.
