RIP: Bitcoin Billionaire Mircea Popescu Dies at 41

Mircea Popescu, Bitcoin billionaire and controversial Bitcoin blogger, has drowned at Playa Hermosa, a popular beach in the Central American country of Costa Rica.

Popescu claimed that he owned 1 million Bitcoin, but that number is heavily disputed. More realistic estimates put the number closer to 30,000, worth just over $US1 billion at the current price, or around $US1.9 billion at its all-time high in April. Some sources believe Popescu’s was one of the top 20 largest Bitcoin holdings in the world.

Investor Anthony Pompliano, one of Bitcoin’s most prominent advocates, noted that Popescu’s death might have a positive effect on everyone else’s Bitcoin holdings due to scarcity. Several people in the crypto community criticised him for being heartless and Pompliano deleted the tweet after six minutes.

A Polarising Figure

Popescu, 41, was a deeply polarising figure. Some in the crypto community worshipped him as a god, describing him as “the greatest man who ever lived”. Others said he was “thoroughly unlikable” and “not a nice man”, but conceded he was also a Bitcoin visionary.

I like Bitcoin because I like freedom. Simple as that.

Mircea Popescu

There were also those who detested Popescu because of his deeply problematic behaviour and dangerous views, which he would publish regularly on his personal blog.

Another Bitcoin Celebrity Dead

Popescu is not the only Bitcoin celebrity to have died this month. John McAfee was found dead in a Spanish prison just hours after his extradition to the US had been approved.