Thodex Founder Faruk Fatih Ozer Found Dead in Prison Cell
Faruk Fatih Ozer, the founder and former CEO of the now-defunct Turkish cryptocurrency exchange Thodex, has been found dead in his prison cell, according to Bloomberg.
Authorities are investigating the incident as a possible suicide, though no official cause of death has yet been confirmed.
From Crypto Success to Catastrophic Collapse
Ozer, once hailed as a young crypto entrepreneur, founded Thodex in 2017. The platform grew rapidly during the crypto boom but collapsed in 2021, leaving thousands of investors unable to access their funds.
Following the exchange’s collapse, Ozer fled to Albania, where he was later arrested and extradited to Turkey.
A Record Sentence
In 2023, a Turkish court sentenced Ozer to 11,196 years in prison on charges including fraud, money laundering, and forming a criminal organization.
His sentencing became one of the most notorious cases in the global crypto industry, highlighting the risks surrounding unregulated exchanges.
Ongoing Investigation
Turkish authorities are now conducting a full investigation into Ozer’s death. The event reignites debate about crypto regulation, investor protection, and prison conditions in high-profile financial crime cases.
Thodex’s collapse remains one of the largest cryptocurrency scandals in Turkey’s history, with many victims still seeking restitution for their lost funds.
