Canadian Crypto Influencer Reportedly Found Dead Months After Disappearance

The body of Kevin Mirshahi, a well-known Canadian crypto influencer who vanished in June, has been found at Île-de-la-Visitation Park in Montreal.

Local media outlet The Gazette reported that a passerby discovered Mirshahi’s decomposing remains on October 30, marking the tragic conclusion to a months-long search.

Mirshahi, 25, was last seen on June 21 after reportedly being abducted along with three others from a Montreal condo. While his companions managed to escape, Mirshahi had remained missing until this recent discovery. An autopsy has since confirmed his identity, according to the report.

Mirshahi was a prominent figure in Montreal’s cryptocurrency community; he had once operated a private investment firm called “Crypto Paradise Island.” His reputation, however, was mixed, with some accusing him of scams. In 2021, Québec’s investment regulator, the Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF), banned Mirshahi and two associates from acting as brokers or advisers, also prohibiting them from posting crypto-related content online. This restriction was renewed on July 4, shortly after his abduction.

In August, Montreal police reportedly arrested Joanie Lepage, 32, who now faces a first-degree murder charge in connection with Mirshahi’s death. However, authorities have not yet confirmed any links between her alleged involvement and Mirshahi’s cryptocurrency activities or potential financial motives.

Meanwhile, North American law enforcement authorities are facing an unprecedented rise in technology-driven investment fraud, and crypto-related cases are a significant focus, according to a recent report by the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA).

The report revealed that regulators across the U.S., Canada, and other North American countries opened 8,768 active investigations in 2023, with digital asset fraud and social media-driven schemes as the top threats to retail investors.

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