Russian Crypto Billionaire Vyacheslav Taran Dead In Helicopter Crash: Reports

 Russian billionaire cryptocurrency investor Vyacheslav Taran died near the French-Italian border after his helicopter crashed, according to multiple reports.

Taran was riding in an Airbus H130 from Lucerne, Switzerland, to Monaco on Friday when it crashed in Villefranche-sur-Mer, the New York Post reported, citing radio network France Bleu.

The helicopter carrying Taran was owned by the company Monacair, Alexander Makogonov, head of press service for the Russian Embassy, told Russian news outlet TASS. The Russian Embassy in Paris has been in communication with Taran’s family, according to TASS.

“The Russian Embassy confirms the death of Vyacheslav Taran in a helicopter crash that occurred on Friday in the area of Villefranche-sur-Mer commune,” Makogonov said in a statement, according to the outlet. “Representatives of the Russian Consulate in Villefranche-sur-Mer are staying in touch with the family of the deceased to settle all administrative matters.”

As the Forex Club founder and president of the Libertex Group, Taran’s death adds to a string of recent deaths among important cryptocurrency figures, including Tiantian Kullander and Nikolai Mushegian, the New York Post reported.

Kullander, the co-founder of Amber Group, died in his sleep Nov. 23 at the age of 30, according to Amber Group’s in-memoriam posted on the company’s website. “It is with the deepest sadness and a heavy heart that we inform you of the passing of our friend and co-founder, Tiantian Kullander, who passed away unexpectedly in his sleep on November 23, 2022,” the notice titled “In Loving Memory of Tiantian Kullander” stated.

Nikolai Mushegian, an early founder of Maker DAO, was found dead from drowning Oct. 28 on a beach in Puerto Rico, according to the NY Post.