8 episodes

When the young CEO of Canada’s largest cryptocurrency exchange is reported to have died while honeymooning in India, it sets off a cataclysmic chain of events that would leave about 76,000 people out of a quarter of a billion dollars and a trail of conspiracy theories around whether Gerald Cotten is dead or alive. A Death in Cryptoland is an original podcast series about a crypto-tycoon, his secret past, his sudden demise, and an online sleuth’s obsession to unravel the truth behind QuadrigaCX. Hosted by Takara Small.

For the best in true crime from CBC, ad-free, visit apple.co/cbctruecrime.

A Death In Cryptoland CBC True Crime

    • True Crime
    • 4.5 • 216 Ratings

Listen on Apple Podcasts
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When the young CEO of Canada’s largest cryptocurrency exchange is reported to have died while honeymooning in India, it sets off a cataclysmic chain of events that would leave about 76,000 people out of a quarter of a billion dollars and a trail of conspiracy theories around whether Gerald Cotten is dead or alive. A Death in Cryptoland is an original podcast series about a crypto-tycoon, his secret past, his sudden demise, and an online sleuth’s obsession to unravel the truth behind QuadrigaCX. Hosted by Takara Small.

For the best in true crime from CBC, ad-free, visit apple.co/cbctruecrime.

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher

    A Death In Cryptoland: Introduces: The Pornhub Empire: Understood

    A Death In Cryptoland: Introduces: The Pornhub Empire: Understood

    With about 100 million visits per day, Pornhub is one of the biggest websites on the planet. This four-part series pulls back the curtain on the scrappy, Montreal-based startup that revolutionized sex on the internet — and the massive scandal that exposed its dark side. The Pornhub Empire, season 2 of Understood, releases March 11. Hosted by journalist Samantha Cole (How Sex Changed the Internet and the Internet Changed Sex). About Understood: Know more, now. From the fall of Sam Bankman-Fried, to the rise of Pornhub, Understood is an anthology podcast that takes you out of the daily news cycle and inside the events, people, and cultural moments you want to know more about. Over a handful of episodes, each season unfolds as a story, hosted by a well-connected reporter, and rooted in journalism you can trust. Driven by insight and fueled by curiosity…The stories of our time: Understood. More episodes are available at: https://link.chtbl.com/QcIHPpZC

    • 27 min
    Episode 6: The End Game

    Episode 6: The End Game

    The revelation that Gerry’s house of cards had been falling apart — just as he’s reported dead in India — leaves people wondering: is this an exit scheme? Could Gerry still be alive? From buying a death certificate to Haitian zombie powder, people talk about the conspiracy theories.

    For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/a-death-in-cryptoland-transcripts-listen-1.6035764

    • 46 min
    Episode 5: Where’s the Money Gerry?

    Episode 5: Where’s the Money Gerry?

    As financial investigators struggle to find any of the missing quarter of a billion dollars, they begin to make some bizarre discoveries around how the exchange had operated — finding funny business from the very start.

    For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/a-death-in-cryptoland-transcripts-listen-1.6035764

    • 40 min
    Episode 4: Voleur

    Episode 4: Voleur

    Despite Michael Patryn’s denials that he’s a fraudster named Omar Dhanani, customers aren’t buying it. They’re demanding proof. A mugshot. A secret service agent, a felon-turned podcaster, and a childhood friend tell the story of Omar, the man Michael insists he’s not.

    For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/a-death-in-cryptoland-transcripts-listen-1.6035764

    • 36 min
    Episode 3: Cracks in the Empire

    Episode 3: Cracks in the Empire

    Gerald Cotten and his business partner, Michael Patryn, launch QuadrigaCX on Boxing Day, 2013. There’s hype in the budding Bitcoin community and the small exchange seems to have a meteoric rise. But cracks begin to appear, problems with the banks, a software bug, and delays in paying back customers. Meanwhile, online rumours of a criminal past dog Michael Patryn.

    For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/a-death-in-cryptoland-transcripts-listen-1.6035764

    • 33 min
    Episode 2: Hunting Ghosts

    Episode 2: Hunting Ghosts

    QuadrigaCX collapses and there’s widespread panic. An online sleuth searches for answers through a tangle of websites, hidden identities and a trail of emails. He uncovers a pattern of deception that predates his exchange, linking Gerry to a shadowy underworld of fraudsters.

    For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/a-death-in-cryptoland-transcripts-listen-1.6035764

    • 38 min

Customer Reviews

4.5 out of 5
216 Ratings

216 Ratings

Carol22l ,

There have been transactions….

There have been transactions on the quad Riga wallets AFTER Gerry’s death. Y’all need to dig more into this!

TildaJean ,

Not for me c

I just don’t like the format. Sorry and good luck.

USA Mknitter ,

Very intriguing

This true story sounds like a person who enjoys conning others and getting away with it. As much as everyone seems to be praising bitcoins, I am reminded, “If it sounds too good to be true, then it’s not true.” Gerry was extremely smart, but the coincidences are suspicious. However, as having a close family member with Crohn’s disease (diagnosed at age 3 years and suspected of having been born with it, which is very, very rare), and is currently of early elementary school age with a grim outlook or future, it’s very possible that Gerry, at a fairly young age, could have suddenly died of it—rather than just disappearing off of the face of the earth.

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