The apparent drowning death of Bitcoin billionaire Mircea Popescu off the coast of Costa Rica left a shocking wave in crypto circles.
Local Costa Rican newspaper Teletica reported that Popescu entered the Pacific at Jacó Beach around 8:30am on 23 June, and “was swept away by the current and died on the spot”. The waters were deemed unsafe for swimming according to the community’s lifeguards.
Popescu, a Romanian national, was 41 years old and his death is currently being investigated by Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Agency.
The Bitcoin ‘whale’ was the founder of crypto exchange MPEx and a ferocious advocate of Bitcoin. The last couple of years however, he had been more low profile and seemingly enjoying life out of the spotlights.
It is estimated that Popescu held around 130,000 Bitcoin worth well over $3 billion when he passed. What happened to his holdings is unsure and open for speculation with many wondering if they died with him.
Popescu was renowned for his view that “Bitcoin is fate” and was described by Bitcoin Magazine editor Pete Rizzo as an unapologetic mythical figure. According to Rizzo, the Romanian was an important player in the crypto space:
“His influence on the Bitcoin conversation is – and was – undeniable.”
Following the recent news, Rizzo took to Twitter and shared a series of Popescu’s quotes made in the past decade. One of his most notable posts was dated back in 2011 where Popescu had stated:
“Bitcoin is about the most important project of the human species at the moment. That is all”.
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