A billionaire Russian cryptocurrency entrepreneur has died in a helicopter crash near Monaco, according to reports.
Vyacheslav Taran, 53, died after the helicopter mysteriously crashed unexpectedly, despite good weather in the area.
The tragic incident makes Taran the third cryptocurrency entrepreneur to die suddenly in recent weeks.
The helicopter crashed near Villefranche-sur-Mer after lifting off from Lausanne in Switzerland.
The French pilot also died.
“It is with great sadness that Libertex Group confirms the death of its co-founder and chairman of board of directors, Vyacheslav Taran, after a helicopter crash that took place en route to Monaco on Friday, 25 November 2022,” a statement from Taran’s company reads.
“The board of directors of Libertex Group and company employees extend their most heartfelt condolences and sympathy to the Taran family,” it adds.
Taran was the co-founder of the investment platform Libertex and the founder of Forex Club.
An investigation is ongoing into the crash that includes both local authorities and Airbus, makers of the H130 helicopter involved in the incident.
France Bleu, a French media network, also reported that another passenger suddenly canceled at the last minute.
However, details regarding the other passenger were unavailable.
The mystery regarding Taran’s deadly crash adds to other sudden deaths involving cryptocurrency leaders.
30-year-old Tiantian Kullander (also known as “TT”) reportedly died suddenly in his sleep last week.
“He put his heart and soul into the company, in every stage of its growth,” a statement from his company read.
“He led by example with his intellect, generosity, humility, diligence, and creativity.
“”TT was a respected thought leader and widely recognized as a pioneer for the industry.
“His depth of knowledge, his willingness to collaborate and his desire to always help others benefited countless start-ups and individuals,” it adds.
“His insights and creativity inspired many projects, people and communities.”
Kullander was noted for helping the startup reach a $3 billion valuation that included a $200 million funding round, according to the New York Post.
A third cryptocurrency multi-millionaire, 29-year-old Nikolai Mushegian drowned on a Puerto Rico beach on October 29.
He had recently tweeted that he feared the CIA and Mossad would kill him, leading to speculation concerning Mushegian’s cause of death.
“CIA and Mossad and pedo elite are running some kind of sex trafficking entrapment blackmail ring out of Puerto Rico and Caribbean islands,” the post reads.
“They are going to frame me with a laptop planted by my ex gf who was a spy.
“They will torture me to death.”
The tweet was Mushegian’s final post just hours before his death.
CIA and Mossad and pedo elite are running some kind of sex trafficking entrapment blackmail ring out of Puerto Rico and caribbean islands. They are going to frame me with a laptop planted by my ex gf who was a spy. They will torture me to death.
— ☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️ (@delete_shitcoin) October 28, 2022
The deaths also come as the cryptocurrency market hit major losses in 2022.
In addition, defunct cryptocurrency exchange FTX and now-broke multibillionaire founder Sam Bankman-Fried has been under investigation after donating millions of dollars to support Democrat candidates.
He was also facilitating a money laundering operation via cryptocurrency transfers to the National Bank of Ukraine.
