---
title: "Bitcoin Billionaire Reportedly Found Dead"
description: "Bitcoin billionaire and crypto exchange founder Mircea Popescu has reportedly been found dead off the coast of Costa Rica, MarketWatch reports."
date: "2021-06-29"
modified: "2021-06-29"
authors:
  - name: "Victor Tangermann"
    job_title: "Senior Editor"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/bitcoin-billionaire-reportedly-found-dead"
categories:
  - "Bitcoin"
  - "Blockchain"
  - "Cryptocurrency"
  - "Future Society"
tags:
  - "bitcoin"
  - "cryptocurrencies"
  - "cryptocurrency"
  - "the digest"
---

# Bitcoin Billionaire Reportedly Found Dead

![Bitcoin billionaire and crypto exchange founder Mircea Popescu has reportedly been found dead off the coast of Costa Rica, MarketWatch reports.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/bitcoin-billionaire-found-dead.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: \<a href="https://pixabay.com/photos/bitcoin-cryptocurrency-coin-btc-6286462/" target="\_blank"\>Image via Pixabay\</a\>\</em\>*

## Death of a Billionaire

Bitcoin billionaire and crypto exchange founder Mircea Popescu has reportedly drowned off the coast of Costa Rica, according to a [brief and rather ambiguous report](<https://www.teletica.com/sucesos/extranjero-de-41-anos-murio-ahogado-en-playa-hermosa-garabito_288345>) by local TV station *Teletica*.

According to the report, the country's Judicial Investigation Agency confirmed the death, but it remains unclear if a body has been recovered or not.

*Bitcoin Magazine* also [talked to several women](<https://bitcoinmagazine.com/culture/mircea-popescu-bitcoin-philosopher-dead>) who were involved with Popescu, who corroborated the claim that he had died.

The controversial pioneer was one of the largest single holders of the cryptocurrency. He was 41.

Popescu was one of the earliest adopters of Bitcoin, according to *Bitcoin Magazine*, and founded the Bitcoin exchange MPEx in 2012, as well as a highly controversial Bitcoin blog, where he voiced his often sexist and bigoted views.

Given his tremendous wealth — his holdings would have been worth almost $2 billion when Bitcoin hit all-time highs in mid-April — the crypto market is now wondering what will happen to all those assets. It's a timely reminder that without a backup plan, digital currency holdings can easily end up being wiped off the face of the earth when their owner passes away.

## Not for Swimmers

The billionaire reportedly swam at a beach that was not meant for swimming. Currents are very strong in the area and easily can drag swimmers out into the open ocean.

*Teletica* reported the drowning of a foreigner at a beach last week, but identified Popescu as being Polish, despite the fact that he is Romanian by residency, undermining the credibility of its reporting.

In other words, it seems at least theoretically possible that Popescu could have faked his death.

## Sexism and Bigotry

Popescu has been a controversial figure in the space, and at one point claimed to be the "world's greatest erotica writer," [according to *Bitcoin Magazine*](<https://bitcoinmagazine.com/culture/mircea-popescu-bitcoin-philosopher-dead>). He reportedly was embroiled in a number of documented cases of sexism, bigotry, and anti-semitism.

His writings often uses a crass and evocative style, according to the magazine. His blog was so controversial that it was banned in India, [according to *CNBC*](<https://www.cnbctv18.com/obituary/bitcoin-billionaire-mircea-popescu-drowned-in-costa-rica-report-9816341.htm>).

**READ MORE:** [Mircea Popescu, Bitcoin Blogger And Provocateur, Reported Dead At 41](<https://bitcoinmagazine.com/culture/mircea-popescu-bitcoin-philosopher-dead>) \[*Bitcoin Magazine*\]

**More on Bitcoin:** *[Expert: Bitcoin Is Gonna Crash Below $15,000](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/expert-bitcoin-is-gonna-crash-below-15000>)*

## Author
I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida.

### Author social links  
[Bluesky](<https://bsky.app/profile/vtanger.bsky.social>)