Crypto influencer Kevin Mirshahi found dead in Canadian park

The body of 25-year-old cryptocurrency phenomenon Kevin Mirshahi, who has been missing since June, was found dead.

Mirshahi’s body was found in Montreal’s Île-de-la-Visitation Park, as confirmed by the Sûreté du Québec, the Montreal Gazette reported.

A passerby came across his decomposing body, prompting an investigation to identify him through autopsy.

The case, which marks Montreal’s 32nd homicide of 2024, has revealed an alarming pattern of violence within the crypto community and raised questions about the safety of high-profile figures in the industry.

Timeline of Mirshahi’s disappearance and death

Mirshahi’s disappearance occurred on June 21. He and three others were allegedly kidnapped from an apartment in Old Montreal early that morning.

Montreal police were alerted after receiving a 911 call about a disturbance at a residence near de la Commune and St-Hubert Streets, The Gazette reported.

CRYPTO INFUNENCERI FOUND DEAD

Montreal crypto influencer Kevin Mirshahi was discovered in Île-de-la-Visitation park months after a kidnapping in June.

It has been confirmed that a 32-year-old woman is facing murder charges but has no connection to the crypto company “Crypto Paradise Island”.

Mirshahi’s… pic.twitter.com/tgVq43uwN9

— Roundtable by Mario Nawfal (@RoundtableSpace) November 14, 2024

While the locations of the other three kidnapped people were quickly determined, the fact that Mirshahi was still missing caused the police to shift the investigation to the Police Station.

During the initial investigation, police identified 32-year-old Joanie Lepage of Les Cèdres, Quebec, as the suspect, according to The Gazette.

He was arrested in August and charged with first-degree murder and involvement in Mirshahi’s kidnapping. Although authorities claim that Lepage played a role in covering up Mirshahi’s death, investigations are ongoing to determine whether other suspects were involved.

Mirshahi’s crypto history

According to The Gazette, Mirshahi was a prominent figure in Montreal’s cryptocurrency scene, primarily because he ran a private investment firm called “Crypto Paradise Island.”

Its activities in the crypto space have been the focus of public and regulatory scrutiny, particularly by Quebec’s investment authority, the Autorité des Marchés Financiers.

The AMF imposed restrictions on Mirshahi in 2021, banning him and two partners from acting as investment advisors or conducting securities transactions. Two weeks after his disappearance, in July 2024, this ban was further strengthened and his online activities were limited and he was required to stop promoting relevant content on social media.

This case is not the first crypto-related crime to occur in Canada this month. On November 6, Toronto police investigated the kidnapping of WonderFi CEO Dean Skurka, who was kidnapped in downtown Toronto and released after a $1 million ransom was paid electronically.