QuadrigaCX crypto customers want ‘deceased’ founder’s body dug up

Gerald Cotten died unexpectedly in December of 2018, but don’t try telling that to the people who lost millions worth of cryptocurrency as a result. 

The then 30-year-old founder of the Canadian cryptocurrency exchange QuadrigaCX was traveling in India when he reportedly died from complications resulting from Crohn’s disease. His former customers, however, suspected foul play — and now, reports Coindesk, they want Cotten’s body exhumed. 

Why? Well, that would be because they don’t think he’s actually dead. 

The problem, other than the supposed death of course, was that Cotten had sole access to the approximately $190 million worth of customers’ cryptocurrency held by the exchange. With him gone, no one could touch it. To those who lost access to their funds, Cotten’s overseas death just seems too fishy to believe, especially considering the questionable way in which his company was run. 

Essentially, Cotten now stands posthumously accused by his critics of pulling off an elaborate exit scam that culminated in the faking of his own death. 

The request to exhume Cotten’s body — which Coindesk notes was buried in Canada in December of last year — comes from a law firm representing users who lost cryptocurrency as a result of Cotten’s death. It is addressed to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. 

“The purpose of this letter is to request, on behalf of the Affected Users, that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (the ‘RCMP’), conduct an exhumation and post-mortem autopsy on the body of Gerald Cotten to confirm both its identity and the cause of death given the questionable circumstances surrounding Mr. Cotten’s death and the significant losses of Affected Users,” it reads. 

The letter further “respectfully requests that this process be completed by Spring of 2020, given decomposition concerns.”

We’re sure Cotten’s widow is delighted.