The sudden death of another cryptocurrency expert has shocked the crypto industry.
Tiantian Kullander, 30, died in his sleep on Nov. 23, his company Amber Group said in a statement.
Kullander co-founded the Hong Kong-based cryptocurrency software company Amber Group in 2017.
His company was in the process of raising $200 million from venture capital firms. Singaporean state investment firm Temasek Holdings Pte was among the investors. Existing shareholders, including Sequoia China, Pantera Capital, and Tiger Global Management, also took part in the $200 million financing.
Amber Group was valued at $3 billion this year, while its valuation had tripled from mid-2021, according to its website.
Kullander began his career as a market trader for Goldman Sachs Group and Morgan Stanley. He was included in the “30 under 30” Forbes list for Asia in 2019. He was also the founder of KeeperDAO, DAOs are decentralized organizations that use blockchain technology.
“He put his heart and soul into the company, in every stage of its growth. He led by example with his intellect, generosity, humility, diligence and creativity,” Amber Group’s statement said.
Kullander was also a board member of Fnatic, an e-sports organization, according to International Business Times.
Tiantian “TT” Kullander passed away on Nov 23rd.
He was a very intelligent, lovely person. TT co-founded Amber Group. I was fortunate to work with him over the years as an investor/board member.
The world is a lesser place without him.
Amber’s tribute: https://t.co/pphfIixrJR pic.twitter.com/ii16b9SkCd
— Dan Morehead (@dan_pantera) November 25, 2022
Nikolai Mushegian
Nikolai Mushegian, the co-founder of the cryptocurrency lending platform MakerDAO and the decentralized stablecoin Dai, was found dead in Puerto Rico at the age of 29 on Oct. 29.
His demise sparked speculation on Twitter regarding the circumstances surrounding his death.
Mushegian reportedly drowned after being swept away by strong sea currents close to Condado Beach in an area that is known for being dangerous.
He was a highly-regarded figure in the cryptocurrency community and helped develop multiple blockchain-based decentralized financial platforms and stablecoin systems.
Just one day before his sudden death, he wrote on Twitter that the “CIA and Mossad and pedo elite are running some kind of sex trafficking entrapment blackmail ring out of Puerto Rico and Caribbean islands” and that “they are going to frame me with a laptop planted by my ex gf [girlfriend] who was a spy. They will torture me to death.”
Two months prior, he wrote on Twitter that he had “three possible futures,” which included either being “suicided by the CIA,” becoming a “CIA brain damage slave asset,” or the “worst nightmare of people who [expletive] with me up until now.”
Helicopter Crash
The more recent death of Russian crypto billionaire Vyacheslav Taran has further shocked many in the crypto world after the 53-year-old died in a helicopter crash near the French-Italian border, reported the New York Post.
Taran was the founder of Forex Club and president of the Libertex Group. He was the only passenger in the helicopter when it crashed on Friday.
Authorities have not raised suspicion of foul play in any of these cases.
Katabella Roberts contributed to this report.