Crypto Exchange CEO’s widow feels ‘hounded’ by accusations that death was faked

The death was announced by the company in mid-January, almost a month later.

However, the reaction from investors and customers of what is Canada’s biggest cryptocurrency exchange has largely been one of mounting anger with many even suggesting 30-year-old Mr Cotten faked his own death.

“But it’s simply not true – this has been a tragedy for anyone who knew Gerry and anyone involved in QuadrigaCX,” an employee and close associate of Jennifer Robertson – Mr Cotten’s widow – exclusively told express.co.uk

“To lose your husband, to then face the turmoil and fallout effect of that on the business you grew together while you are grieving for that loss is an enormous burden for anyone’s heart to take.

“Do these people posting these vile accusations on social media have any compassion, or is their one and only thought about money? It’s disgusting, and it is taking its toll on Jennifer and everyone here.”

QuadrigaCX had been a hugely popular exchange, praised by thousands of Canadian customers until cracks started to appear early last year when the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) suspended accounts worth £16.4m affecting 388 QuadrigaCX customers. Toronto-based CIBC investigators claimed there was confusion over the ownership of the funds which remained frozen until December.

In a statement to Quadriga’s 115,000 customers, Jennifer Robertson said a new management team would be put in place to steer the business through any difficulties arising from the CEO’s death and subsequent loss of wallet keys.

“Gerry’s death was a shock to all of us and we are deeply saddened by his passing,” it read.

“One of Gerry’s many accomplishments was his ability to build a highly capable and successful management team which will continue his legacy.”

That management team’s main job is to now locate the highly sophisticated encrypted wallet keys which are currently the only way of accessing £71m of bitcoin, £35m of Ether and millions more in Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash SV and Bitcoin Gold.

The troubled company has now filed for credit protection with the Nova Scotia Supreme Court which last night appointed Ernst & Young as the independent third party to monitor QuadrigaCX’s administration.

The move almost certainly means an investigation will be set up to look into the financial goings-on within QuadrigaCX, amid calls from many customers to probe Mr Cotten’s mysterious death.

A death certificate issued by authorities in India, was quickly dismissed as “worthless” by many QuadrigaCX customers who demanded to see official Canadian documents. The Indian certificate had Mr Cotten’s name spelt incorrectly, adding more fuel to conspiracy theories.

A suspicion of wrongdoing surrounding what looks likely to be one of the biggest crypto stories of the year has been flooding social media channels. Facebook, Twitter and Reddit have been awash with accusations.

“But there is simply no wrongdoing here whatsoever – this is just a tragic set of circumstances for many people involved in this whole sorry mess,” the insider added.

“Gerry’s sudden passing in a country on the other side of the world has been devastating for Jennifer, then there’s been this awful issue with accessing accounts.

“As if that wasn’t enough, she’s now facing an avalanche of dreadful accusations and rumours across social media and she feels absolutely hounded by it all.

“This is not the right way to treat a good human being, especially one who is grieving the loss of her husband.”

Coin Rivet is a website bringing news, information, analysis, opinion and insight from the fast-moving blockchain world.
source: express.co.uk