Montreal crypto influencer Kevin Mirshahi, who vanished in June, was discovered dead on 30 October in Île-de-la-Visitation Park.
The discovery, made by a passerby around 10 a.m., was confirmed by the Sûreté du Québec following an autopsy, marking Montreal’s 32nd homicide this year.
Mirshahi, a prominent figure in cryptocurrency circles and manager of a private investment group, Crypto Paradise Island, was reportedly abducted on 21 June.
He and three others were taken from a residence in Old Montreal, though Mirshahi was the only one who remained missing after Montreal police responded to a conflict in the area near de la Commune and St-Hubert Streets.
In August, Joanie Lepage, a Les Cèdres resident, was arrested on charges related to Mirshahi’s abduction and murder.
Authorities allege that Lepage aided in concealing Mirshahi’s death. The investigation remains open, with officials seeking further evidence and any other potential suspects.
Mirshahi’s death highlights a troubling trend of violent crimes targeting cryptocurrency influencers and investors.
Across the globe, high-profile incidents of abduction, assault, and coercion aimed at extorting digital assets have been on the rise.
Recent cases include an armed robbery in Thailand, where Devcon conference attendee Viascheslav Leibov was reportedly forced to transfer $250,000 in USDT.
Another crypto executive, Haichao Zhu, co-founder of Rooch Network, was robbed at knifepoint in Thailand, suffering minor injuries.
In Toronto, Dean Skruka, CEO of WonderFi, was reportedly kidnapped and released after a $1 million ransom was paid in cryptocurrency.
The surge in violent crimes against crypto figures underlines the heightened risks facing individuals in the industry, as the growing value and influence of digital assets continue to attract criminal activity.
