Kiev authorities have launched an investigation following the death of Ukrainian crypto-trader and blogger Konstantin Ganich, known online as Kostya Kudo. The 32-year-old was found dead in his car with a gunshot wound to his head, and police are reportedly treating the case as a suspected suicide.
According to Ukrainian media, a firearm registered in Ganich’s name was discovered at the scene early on Saturday morning. While officials have not formally identified him, they confirmed that the deceased was an “entrepreneur and blogger, whose activities were connected with cryptocurrencies.”
Police sources revealed that Ganich had appeared despondent in the days leading up to his death. He had “told his relatives about his depressed mood due to financial difficulties shortly before his death, and sent them a farewell message,” as reported by Unian.
Financial Despair After Global Crypto Collapse
Ganich’s death coincided with one of the most dramatic downturns in the global cryptocurrency market this year. On Friday, just hours before his body was discovered, markets suffered an unprecedented wipeout following United States President Donald Trump’s announcement of sweeping trade measures against China.
Trump declared that the United States would enforce “100% tariffs on Chinese goods beginning November 1, 2025,” expanding on existing trade duties. The move, he said, was a response to Beijing’s “extraordinarily aggressive” export restrictions on key strategic minerals that are often used in military applications.
The announcement triggered panic across financial markets, with cryptocurrencies taking the heaviest hit. Analysts estimate that more than $19.33 billion in digital asset positions were erased within hours. Unian reported that Ganich may have lost up to $30 million of the investments he managed, in addition to his personal holdings, during the crash.
Connections To Influential Circles Raise Questions
Local outlets have claimed that some of Ganich’s clients included Ukrainian officials and other “influential people.” These associations have prompted speculation and a degree of unease within Kiev’s financial community. According to Unian, Ganich was also allegedly linked to Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence, though officials have not confirmed this connection publicly.
Shortly after the news broke, a post appeared on Ganich’s Telegram channel confirming his death, stating that the crypto blogger “had tragically perished.” Followers expressed disbelief, describing him as a talented trader who had guided thousands through the unpredictable world of digital currency.
However, not everyone is convinced that his death was self-inflicted. Some anonymous sources quoted by Unian suggested that Ganich may have recently been the target of blackmail by law enforcement figures. These allegations have yet to be substantiated, but they have deepened public suspicion around the circumstances of his death.
