싱가포르에서 비트코인 등 가상화폐 거래소를 운영하는 20대 여성 사장이 숨진 채 발견돼 경찰이 조사하고 있다.
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(The Strait Times) |
6일 더스트레이츠타임스에 따르면 온라인 가상화폐 거래소인 '퍼스트메타'의 미 국인 사장 오텀 래드키(28·여) 씨가 지난달 26일 자택에서 숨진 채 발견됐으며, 경 찰은 자연사가 아니라고 판단하고 조사하고 있다.
경찰은 지난달 26일 오전 7시께 래드키의 집에서 도움을 요청하는 전화를 받았 으며, 현장에 도착한 뒤 래드키 씨가 침대에 누운 채 숨져 있는 것을 발견했다고 밝 혔다.
래드키는 지난 2012년 퍼스트메타에 합류했으며, 이전에 온라인 게임 이용자들 에게 메신저 서비스를 제공하는 엑스파이어 등에서 일했다.
페스트메타는 자체 웹사이트에서 "친구이자 CEO인 오텀 래드키를 잃은 데 대해 충격과 슬픔을 금할 수 없다. 그는 우리 모두에게 영감을 주었다"며 "그의 가족, 친 구들에게 깊은 위로를 표한다"고 밝혔다.
비트코인은 세계 최대 거래소인 마운트콕스가 지난주 파산한 데 이어 캐나다 비 트코인 은행인 플렉스코인은행도 해커에게 60만달러(약 6억4천만원)을 도난 당한 뒤 문을 닫아 가상 화폐로서 안전성이 의문시되고 있다.
비트코인은 2009년 신원 미상의 프로그래머가 개발한 가상화폐로 발행 기관의 통제 없이 P2P(다자간 파일공유) 기술을 통해 이용자들 사이에서 익명으로 거래된다 .
비트코인은 자금세탁 등 불법행위에 이용될 소지가 있다는 이유로 중국, 대만, 태국 등 일부 국가에서는 유통이 금지됐다. (연합)
<관련 영문 기사>
Singapore police probes 'unnatural death' of American Bitcoin CEO
Singapore's police said Thursday they were investigating the "unnatural death" of a young American woman who headed a company dealing in the Bitcoin virtual currency.
Autumn Radtke, chief executive of Singapore-based Bitcoin exchange company First Meta, was found dead in her apartment in the city-state last month.
A local technology website reported she had committed suicide, but later updated its report to say it was "unclear" how she died.
The Singapore Police Force said they received a call on the morning of February 26 requesting assistance at a highrise residential building.
"Upon police's arrival, a woman in her 20s was found lying motionless at the said location," a police statement said.
"She was pronounced dead at scene by paramedics. Police are investigating the unnatural death," the statement said.
A source, who asked not to be named, confirmed to AFP that Radtke was a US citizen. Media reports said she was 28 years old.
News of Radtke's death first surfaced in the technology startup community, which has a thriving presence in Singapore.
First Meta announced Radtke's death on its website but did not give a cause.
"The First Meta team is shocked and saddened by the tragic loss of our friend and CEO Autumn Radtke," the company said in a brief statement.
"Our deepest condolences go out to her family, friends and loved ones.
Autumn was an inspiration to all of us and she will be sorely missed," the statement said, without giving details.
First Meta provides a web-based exchange for users to buy, sell and trade virtual currencies for real money.
Radtke moved to Singapore in 2012, and her death comes amid controversy surrounding the Bitcoin virtual currency.
On February 28, Japan-based MtGox Bitcoin exchange filed for bankruptcy protection, with its chief executive saying it had lost the equivalent of nearly half a billion dollars in a possible theft.
On Tuesday, Canada-based Flexcoin was forced to shut down, saying that someone attacked its systems and stole nearly $600,000 worth of Bitcoin.
First Meta last year secured funding of Sg$588,000 ($464,000) from Silicon Valley-based technology firm Plug and Play Tech Center.
Singapore's central bank, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), has said however that virtual currencies are not legal tender and those who deal in them should be aware of the risks.
"MAS does not regulate Bitcoin, including its purchase, sale or use, whether online or via other means such as physical vending machines," MAS said in a statement last week.
"Businesses and individuals who choose to accept virtual currencies in exchange for goods and services or to transact in them should be cognizant of the risks and nature of virtual currencies." (AFP)
