Canada

Crypto influencer Kevin Mirshahi found dead in Canadian park

Published

7 hours ago

November 14, 2024

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

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

A passerby came across his decomposing body, prompting an investigation that identified him through an autopsy.

The case, which marks Montreal’s 32nd homicide of 2024, has highlighted a concerning pattern of violence within the crypto community, raising questions about the safety of high-profile figures in the sector.

Timeline of Mirshahi’s disappearance and death

Mirshahi’s disappearance occurred on June 21. Early that morning, he and three others were allegedly abducted from a condo building in Old Montreal.

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

CRYPTO INFLUENCER FOUND DEAD
Kevin Mirshahi, a Montreal crypto influencer, was discovered in Île-de-la-Visitation park months after a June abduction.
A 32-year-old woman’s facing murder charges, but no ties to his crypto firm “Crypto Paradise Island” confirmed.
Mirshahi’s… pic.twitter.com/tgVq43uwN9
— Mario Nawfal’s Roundtable (@RoundtableSpace) November 14, 2024

While the three other abductees were quickly located, Mirshahi remained missing, prompting police to escalate the investigation to the SQ.

During the initial investigation, police identified Joanie Lepage, a 32-year-old woman from Les Cèdres, Quebec, as a suspect, per The Gazette.

In August, she was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and involvement in Mirshahi’s abduction. Authorities allege that Lepage played a role in concealing Mirshahi’s death, though investigations are ongoing to determine if other suspects may have been involved.

Mirshahi’s background in crypto

Mirshahi was a prominent figure in Montreal’s cryptocurrency scene, primarily due to his management of a private investment firm called “Crypto Paradise Island,” per The Gazette.

His activities in the crypto space attracted public and regulatory scrutiny, particularly from Quebec’s investment authority, the Autorité des Marchés Financiers.

The AMF placed restrictions on Mirshahi in 2021, barring him and two associates from acting as investment advisers or conducting securities transactions. Two weeks after his disappearance, this ban was reinforced in July 2024, limiting his online activities and requiring him to cease promoting related content on social media.

This case isn’t the first crypto-related crime that happened in Canada this month. On Nov. 6, Toronto police investigated the kidnapping of WonderFi CEO Dean Skurka, who was abducted in downtown Toronto and released after a $1 million ransom was paid electronically.

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Canada

Winklevoss’ crypto exchange Gemini secures in-principal approval from Singapore’s MAS

Published

2 weeks ago

October 29, 2024

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Gemini has received in-principle approval from Singapore’s Monetary Authority for a major payment institution license, marking a key step in its APAC expansion.

Cryptocurrency exchange Gemini, founded by Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, announced it has received in-principle approval from Singapore‘s Monetary Authority for a Major Payment Institution license.

In a Tuesday blog announcement on Oct. 29, the exchange said that the approval advances its application under the Payment Services Act 2019, enabling the trading platform to offer cross-border money transfer and digital payment token services, strengthening its compliance stance in Asia-Pacific.

“As part of our ongoing commitment to this market, we are continuing to work towards achieving the MPI license.”
Gemini

The latest milestone follows a January approval from France’s Autorité des marchés financiers, where Gemini secured regulatory clearance as a virtual asset service provider. The exchange operationalized its platform in France, granting users access to trade over 70 cryptocurrencies via its web and mobile platforms, alongside its advanced ActiveTrader option.

Gemini looks to Asia as Canada’s regulations tighten

Gemini’s expansion in Europe and Asia unfolds as the exchange navigates regulatory hurdles in other regions. Earlier this month, the U.S.-based platform exited Canada, a market it once called “essential” for growth. Tightening regulatory demands prompted Gemini and other exchanges, including Binance, OKX, and dYdX, to leave Canada. Gemini informed Canadian users to withdraw funds by Dec. 31, following its earlier compliance efforts, such as pre-registering with the Canadian Securities Administrators in April 2023.

In April, the Canadian government also introduced a new Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework, set to be enforced in 2026, which will require all crypto service providers, including exchanges, brokers, and ATM operators, to report detailed transaction data annually.

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Canada

Gemini follows Binance and OKX in departing Canada

Published

1 month ago

October 1, 2024

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Crypto exchange Gemini has announced its exit from the Canadian market, joining several other platforms that have left due to the country’s strict regulatory environment.

Canadian customers of the Winklevoss-founded exchange reported receiving an email urging them to withdraw their funds by Dec. 31, giving them 90 days to move their assets.

According to the Sept. 30 notice, all Canadian accounts will be closed by the given deadline “with limited exceptions.” Users have been asked to withdraw their crypto and fiat balances.

The move comes as a surprise, considering that the exchange previously described Canada as an “essential market” for its international expansion. Gemini’s decision to exit Canada mirrors that of other major platforms like Binance, OKX, dYdX, and Bybit, all of which have struggled to navigate the regulatory environment.

These exchanges have cited the complexity and cost of compliance with Canadian regulations as primary factors in their decision to leave the market.

Currently, some global platforms, such as Coinbase, Crypto.com, and Kraken, are among those still operating within Canadian borders.

Restrictive regulations

Notably, the regulatory environment began tightening in February 2023 when the Canadian Securities Administrators required all crypto exchanges operating in the country to sign legally binding pre-registration undertakings. This came on top of existing restrictions, including the prohibition on offering margin trading to Canadian users.

The regulations were aimed at bolstering investor protections and bringing more transparency to the crypto sector but also imposed strict limitations on certain activities within the crypto market.

Since the CSA considers some stablecoins to be securities or derivatives, exchanges were prohibited from offering stablecoins or value-referenced crypto assets through contracts without prior approval. This regulation was one of the most challenging for platforms to comply with.

Some exchanges, such as Bybit and KuCoin, were also hit with fines from the Ontario Securities Commission for operating without proper registration.

Although Gemini initially complied with these regulations by submitting its pre-registration in April 2023, it ultimately decided to cease operations in Canada.

With exchanges like Gemini bowing out, Canadian users have fewer ways to access the decentralized market as crypto regulations get tighter by the day.

On April 17, 2024, the Canadian government introduced a new Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework, set to be enforced in 2026, which will require all cryptocurrency service providers, including exchanges, brokers, and ATM operators, to report detailed transaction data annually.

Further, the framework requires service providers to disclose client-specific information, such as names, residential addresses, and taxpayer identification numbers.

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Blockchain

Cypherpunk Holdings rebrands to Sol Strategies, shifts focus to Solana

Published

2 months ago

September 13, 2024

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Canadian blockchain company Cypherpunk Holdings has rebranded, adopting the new name Sol Strategies as it focuses its investment strategy on Solana.

The Toronto-based firm announced on Sept. 12 that Sol Strategies reflects its decision to invest in Solana (SOL), including through staking and projects built on the blockchain network.

Cypherpunk Holdings, now Sol Strategies, launched its operations in 2018 and is publicly listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange. The company also trades on the OTC market.

Cypherpunk Holdings among first publicly-traded companies to hold Bitcoin

Sol Strategies is among the first publicly-traded companies to invest in Bitcoin (BTC). The bear market however saw Cypherpunk Holdings liquidate its BTC and ETH holdings.

Its business also involved venture capital and private equity investments, with these milestones achieved at a time when the crypto space had no exchange-traded funds.

With the board of directors and shareholders approving the rebrand on July 30, 2024, the main focus will now be on the Solana ecosystem.

Leah Wald, chief executive officer of Sol Strategies, noted in a statement that the pivot will allow the company to capitalize on Solana’s growth potential.

“Transitioning to Sol Strategies signifies our strategic evolution for the Company as we focus on unlocking Solana for public markets and driving value for our shareholders.”
Leah Wald, CEO, Sol Strategies

Sol Strategies Solana holdings

Sol Strategies, formerly Cypherpunk Holdings, appointed Leah Wald as its chief executive and president in July 2024. Wald is a crypto industry veteran whose experience includes serving as the former CEO of digital asset management firm Valkyrie.

The company’s SOL holdings have increased significantly since Wald’s appointment and after the shareholder vote to rebrand. Notably, the firm held no Solana as of March 31, 2024.

By July 16, it held over 63,000 SOL in Coinbase custody, which increased to over 86,290 SOL by July 31, 2024.

According to the latest update at the end of July, Sol Strategies acquired its Solana at an average price of $143. SOL currently trades around $135, struggling for upside since dropping from above $200 in April.

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