Crypto

Head of Crypto Exchange Libertex Vyacheslav Taran Dies in Helicopter Crash in France

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Russian billionaire Vyacheslav Taran, chairman of the Libertex Group and founder of the Forex Club, died Nov. 25 in a helicopter crash in France while traveling from Lausanne to Monaco, Switzerland. He was 53 years old. The helicopter pilot, the only other person aboard the craft, also died.

Libertex has confirmed Taran’s death, stating:

“It is with great sadness that Libertex Group confirms the death of its co-founder and Chairman of the Board, Vyacheslav Taran, after a helicopter crash that occurred en route to Monaco on Friday November 25, 2022.”

Taran, who trained as a radio engineer, founded the Forex Club currency trading platform in Russia in 1997. Forex Club became one of the country’s top three exchanges ahead of the Russian Central Bank. firm her and a number of other scholarships in December 2018 for irregularities in their registrations. Forex Club Group continues to operate in more than 100 other countries.

The Libertex trading platform was established in 2012 as part of the Forex Club group and registered in Cyprus. It offers a wide range of financial products, including cryptocurrency trading and “integrated cryptocurrency mining software” and is a sponsor of Bayern Munich football club. According to Russian media, Taran was associated with YouHodler wallet and Wirex app and card, as well as several other investment and real estate companies.

Taran was also the founder of the charitable foundation Change One Life, which helps Russian orphans and adoptive families.

Taran is the third crypto executive to die unexpectedly in recent weeks. Tiantian Kullander (TT), co-founder of Amber Group died November 23 in his sleep at age 30, and MakerDAO co-founder Nikolai Mushegian drowned in Puerto Rico October 28 at the age of 29. Taran is also the latest in a long line of Russian businessmen to die in various circumstances.

Taran’s death led to speculation in the press. The helicopter crash that claimed Taran’s life is investigated; It took place in good weather conditions with an experienced pilot. According to France Bleu, a second passenger had been booked for the flight but canceled at the last minute.

Ukrainian news agency Unian alleged: “According to press accounts, Taran was a Russian foreign intelligence specialist and was responsible for laundering funds from the Russian Federation through a cryptocurrency trading system. . Unian did not provide links to these media. It listed his net worth at $20.2 billion.

Taran is survived by his wife Olga and three children, including an adopted son.