The death of Autumn Radtke is being called a suicide in Singapore based on the circumstances of how she was found. The 28-year-old financial executive from suburban Milwaukee was a rising star in the virtual currency and Bitcoin world after being groomed at Apple and other Silicon Valley tech firms in digital payment systems. At this hour, her wake is underway at a Wisconsin funeral home one week following her sudden death in Singapore.
Autumn Radtke was an enthusiastic ambassador for virtual currencies such as Bitcoin. But her industry was facing crisis after crisis of late, including Wednesday's collapse of Flexcoin, a Canada-based exchange that closed after hackers tried to make off with Bitcoins worth $600,000, and last week's bankruptcy filing of the world's largest cyber currency exchange Mt. Gox.
Ms. Radtke had been CEO of First Meta, which tonight has posted a simple memorial statement on its website to mark her passing.
While her death in Singapore has not been officially ruled a suicide, that seems to be the consensus of foreign officials who are awaiting toxicology reports. Her wake is underway right now and a funeral is going to begin Wednesday night.
According to a Facebook announcement, some of Ms. Radtke's friends and associates friends will gather tomorrow in Milwaukee to celebrate her life.
Less than two years ago at a conference in Asia, Radtke was a featured speaker talking investing in the virtual currency world.
Radtke's death is just the latest in a string of deaths in the financial services sector. In the past month and a half, there have been nine deaths, most of which were suicides.
