Watch Dead Man's Switch: A Crypto Mystery

Dead Man's Switch: A Crypto Mystery is a fascinating four-part docuseries from discovery+ focusing on the death of Gerald 'Gerry' Cotten, the young CEO of Canadian cryptocurrency exchange QuadrigaCX, and the aftermath of his passing. The storyline delves into the potential fraudulence surrounding the disappearance of $190 million worth of customers' funds, which were rather shockingly inaccessible due to Gerry's failure to reveal his private keys, then the only way to access those funds.

The series explores the intricacies of blockchain technology, the world of cryptocurrencies, and the exciting world of cyberspace, where we have not yet come up with an absolute and comprehensive legal framework. The show takes us through the twists and turns of the story, as well as through the bizarre world of cryptocurrency and its various actors, including cybersecurity experts, amateur sleuths, and investigators working to piece together what happened to the missing funds.

The story of Dead Man's Switch begins in December 2018, when Gerry Cotten, QuadrigaCX's CEO, allegedly died suddenly while on honeymoon in India. Since Gerry was the sole holder of the exchange's private keys, which were essential to accessing the company's cold wallets or offline storage facilities, the discovery was brutal to its customers, many of whom had trusted QuadrigaCX with their life savings.

Following the unexpected death of Gerry, the company quickly descended into a maelstrom of controversy when it became clear that there was no backup plan or team that might access the crypto coins stored in cold wallets. The situation became all the more complicated as it was discovered that Gerry had taken customer funds, spent them on luxury items, made several unauthorized wire transfers, and engaged in other suspicious activities before his demise.

The four-part documentary is as insightful as it is classic 'whodunit.' It looks deeper into the possible motives behind Gerry's fraudulent activities, including the personal and professional repercussions that led him to make unscrupulous choices, as well as the extent of his criminal activities. It further scrutinizes the role, if any, of his close associates and employees in his schemes, as they move from being protectors, mistrust, and profit bars.

In the course of the series, the directors shed light on the complexities of cryptocurrency and its regulatory challenges, such as governments' ongoing efforts to regulate the digital currencies' use by criminals, terrorists, and other bad actors. They also reveal the mechanisms underlying QuadrigaCX's operations, such as the different types of wallets used to store funds and the various loopholes that Gerry exploited to divert customers' funds unwittingly.

It's incredible to see how many Americans and global inhabitants believed in cryptocurrency's disruptive potential to challenge fiat currency's long-held monopoly. And with a startling list of significant and prominent players backing the digital coin revolution, the spotlight was finally on the crypto industry. But then comes Gerry Cotten, who seems like a character straight out of an HBO drama, leaving behind a series of unanswered questions and a string of broken dreams.

Ultimately the docudrama ties the key players in the QuadrigaCX saga together by risking their time, reputation, and financial savings to unravel the mystery surrounding Gerry's abrupt death and the missing funds. Finally, Dead Man's Switch: A Crypto Mystery tells a cautionary tale of how fragile the digital currency world is, prompting everyone to ponder the questions - Who can we trust? What happens to our coins if the people we believe in fail us? And how can we prevent history from repeating itself?